Scorching summer heat sends temperatures soaring. The human body sweats more, leading to increased loss of water, minerals, and water-soluble vitamins. Metabolism speeds up, increasing the body's demand for nutrients. Inadequate intake can disrupt metabolism, leading to a loss of appetite, decreased work efficiency, and even conditions like summer heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Therefore, a daily summer diet must be balanced, comprehensive, and rational. While ensuring a foundation of grains, legumes, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, vegetables, and fruits, it is also important to appropriately increase the consumption of heat-relieving foods to supplement functional components.
Cucumber. It contains vitamins A and C, as well as minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron. It is particularly rich in potassium and has the effect of relieving summer heat and clearing heat. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Cucumber has a sweet and cold nature; consuming it can promote the release of heat and water." Cucumbers can be eaten raw or cooked. You can also peel and slice them, and mix them with a little sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, MSG, and minced garlic as a side dish.
Mung bean. Mung beans have a high protein content, an extremely low fat content, and are rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They also contain significant amounts of Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2, making them an excellent food for replenishing potassium. Mung beans are sweet and cold in nature, with the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and relieving summer heat. It is a commonly consumed summer drink in folk culture, suitable for the general population. Diabetic patients should use less or no rock sugar when consuming it, or use a sugar substitute instead. Because mung beans, coix seeds, and lotus seeds all contain relatively high amounts of sugar, the intake of staple foods should be correspondingly reduced when consuming them.