Every summer, many people lose their appetite, their digestive function decreases, and they are prone to symptoms such as fatigue, lassitude, and stomach discomfort. Some people are also more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal diseases. This is because on hot days, people sweat a lot, and a significant amount of water, sodium chloride, and water-soluble vitamins (mainly vitamins B1 and C) are lost with sweat, causing an imbalance in water and salt metabolism; it also reduces the chloride ion reserves in the blood necessary for forming stomach acid, leading to a decrease in stomach acidity; excessive sweating also causes excessive loss of potassium ions in the body; in addition, to dissipate heat, blood is concentrated more on the body surface, reducing blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract; the accumulation of heat in the body and excessive sweating also reduce the activity of various digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. These adverse changes can directly or indirectly cause loss of appetite and digestive dysfunction. If not handled properly, it can also induce other gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, in the hot summer, it is essential to pay attention to dietary regulation and adopt corresponding, effective, and scientific measures. Good fortune comes from "bitterness"
The alkaloids contained in bitter foods have pharmacological effects such as relieving summer heat, clearing heat, promoting blood circulation, and dilating blood vessels. Eating some bitter foods appropriately in hot weather can not only clear the mind, eliminate vexation, refresh the brain, and invigorate the spirit, but also increase appetite and strengthen the spleen and benefit the stomach.
Beer: Beer is rich in amino acids, proteins, sugars, minerals, and other ingredients beneficial to human health, and has long been known as "liquid bread". Drinking a moderate amount of beer in the summer can have effects such as strengthening the stomach, brightening the eyes, dissipating heat, quenching thirst, relieving coughs, promoting urination, eliminating fatigue, and restoring physical strength, making it an ideal summer drink.
Bitter Melon: Its unripe young fruits are used as vegetables, and the ripe pulp can be eaten raw. It can be served cold, stir-fried with meat, or braised with fish, refreshing and tender with a unique flavor. Bitter melon has the effects of increasing appetite, aiding digestion, removing heat toxins, relieving fatigue, clearing the heart and brightening the eyes.
Bitter Bamboo Shoots: Bitter bamboo shoots have a sweet taste amidst bitterness, a cool nature but not cold, and have effects such as relieving summer heat, detoxifying, strengthening the stomach, and eliminating food stagnation. People often use bitter bamboo shoots, pork ribs, green vegetables, and other ingredients to make various delicious dishes, which are tasty and can be called the top vegetable in summer.
In addition, bitter foods such as bitter vegetables, tea, and coffee can also be used as appropriate. It should be noted that excessive consumption of bitter foods may cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Pay attention to supplementing salt and vitamins
In midsummer, the body loses a lot of sodium chloride through excessive sweating, so attention should be paid to supplementing salt while replenishing water. You can drink some salt water daily to maintain the relative stability of the body's acid-base balance and osmotic pressure. Nutritionists also suggest: in high-temperature seasons, it is best for each person to supplement 2 mg of vitamin B1, 2 mg of vitamin B2, and 1 g of calcium daily. This can reduce the consumption of carbohydrates and tissue protein in the body and is beneficial to human health. Therefore, in the summer, you should eat more foods rich in the above-mentioned nutrients, such as watermelon, cucumber, tomato, beans, animal liver, dried shrimp, etc. You can also drink some fruit juices. Do not overconsume cold drinks and beverages
When the weather is hot, eating some cold drinks or drinking some beverages in moderation can have a certain effect of relieving summer heat and lowering the temperature. Cold foods like ice cream and ice cream are made from milk, starch, sugar, and other ingredients. They should not be eaten in excess. Excessive consumption will lower the temperature of the gastrointestinal tract, causing irregular contractions, which can induce abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other illnesses. There are many types of beverages, and drinking too much can affect appetite. In severe cases, it can damage the spleen and stomach or lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Don't forget to supplement potassium in summer
On hot summer days, sweating is heavy, and the loss of potassium ions with sweat is also significant. The resulting hypokalemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headache, and loss of appetite. The most effective way to prevent potassium deficiency in hot weather is to eat more potassium-rich foods. Fresh vegetables and fruits contain more potassium, so you can eat more strawberries, apricots, lychees, peaches, plums, etc.; vegetables such as scallions, celery, and edamame are also rich in potassium. Tea also contains a relatively high amount of potassium. Drinking more tea in hot weather can not only relieve summer heat but also supplement potassium, killing two birds with one stone. Pay attention to food hygiene
Food hygiene is especially important in the summer, and good dietary and personal hygiene habits must be developed. Do not buy spoiled food ingredients; meals should be prepared and eaten fresh; raw fruits and vegetables should be washed and disinfected; when making cold dishes, add minced garlic and vinegar, which can season the food, kill bacteria, and increase appetite; even in hot weather, do not overindulge in cold food to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from taking advantage of the situation. Light nourishment is most suitable for summer
In terms of dietary nourishment, the principle for hot weather is light nourishment, strengthening the spleen, and eliminating summer heat and dampness. Fatty, rich, and greasy foods as well as hot and dry products should not be eaten. Instead, choose foods with the effects of being light and nourishing yin, such as duck, shrimp, crucian carp, lean meat, edible fungi (shiitake mushrooms, mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, tremella, etc.), and Job's tears. Through reasonable cooking, a variety of delicious dishes can be made, which can not only increase appetite and supplement nutrition but also relieve summer heat and strengthen the body. In addition, you can also eat "detoxifying medicinal porridges" such as mung bean porridge, lentil porridge, lotus leaf porridge, and mint porridge. They have a certain effect of expelling summer heat and promoting body fluids, and they are delicious.
In addition, in a high-temperature environment, protein metabolism in the body accelerates and energy consumption increases, so the supply of protein must be increased appropriately. The daily intake should be 100-120 grams, with more than half being high-quality protein from fish, lean meat, chicken, eggs, milk, and soy products to meet the metabolic needs of the body in midsummer. At the same time, to increase appetite, efforts should be made to make the food palatable in terms of cooking, pay attention to increasing and changing the variety of dishes, and also use an appropriate amount of spicy and aromatic seasonings.