Currently, the climate is humid and muggy, and people are prone to a series of symptoms such as irritability, loss of appetite, fatigue, loose stools, and a deficiency of Qi, along with the changing climate.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the above symptoms are caused by the dampness evil in the body affecting the spleen and stomach. At this time, a large amount of watermelons, cucumbers, muskmelons, and other fruits are available, but they are considered "damp-retaining" fruits. Consuming them will exacerbate damp-heat symptoms. Therefore, these fruits should be consumed in moderation. Experts recommend eating more easily absorbed and digestible foods, such as winter melon, loofah, bitter melon, mung bean soup, glutinous rice, and sweet potatoes. For those with a deficient spleen, it is also advisable to consume foods like Chinese yam, millet, and sorghum. Winter melon is sweet in nature and cool in temperature, and every part of it is a treasure. It is the only vegetable in the gourd family that contains no fat. It has effects such as clearing heat, promoting urination, reducing swelling and detoxification, promoting Qi circulation to relieve fatigue, moistening the lungs, and generating fluids. It has a good therapeutic effect on diabetes, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, kidney disease, and patients with edema. In addition to being cooked into conventional dishes, fresh winter melon can also be juiced for drinking, or the winter melon peel can be boiled in salt water for consumption. However, due to its cool nature, it should be avoided by those with a weak and cold body constitution or those with chronic diarrhea.