High summer temperatures and excessive sweating lead to significant loss of body fluids and various nutrients, easily causing fatigue and thirst. This condition, known as consuming Qi and damaging Yin, affects the spleen and stomach function, leading to decreased appetite and impaired digestion. Therefore, one should eat more of four types of food in the summer.
"Sour" foods
Appropriate consumption of sour foods can astringe sweat, stop diarrhea, and expel dampness, preventing excessive sweating from depleting Qi and damaging Yin. They also promote the production of body fluids to quench thirst, and strengthen the stomach to aid digestion. Examples include tomatoes, lemons, strawberries, grapes, hawthorn, mangoes, and kiwis. Adding a little vinegar to dishes can also sterilize and prevent gastrointestinal diseases.
"Bitter" foods
As the saying goes: "Eating bitter foods in hot weather is better than taking tonics." Bitter foods contain amino acids, alkaloids, and glycosides, and have functions such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, reducing heat and summer heat, and refreshing the mind. Common bitter foods include bitter melon, dandelion, tea, and chocolate. However, it should be noted that excessive consumption of bitter foods at one time can cause discomfort such as nausea and vomiting.
"High-Potassium" foods
Hot weather causes heavy sweating, which depletes a large amount of potassium, leading to hypokalemia. This can result in fatigue, dizziness, headaches, poor appetite, and listlessness. At this time, it is best to eat more potassium-rich foods, such as strawberries, peaches, spinach, scallions, and celery. Drinking more tea in hot weather can also relieve summer heat and replenish potassium.
"Qi-regulating" foods
Hot weather often leads to physical and mental fatigue, irritability, poor appetite, and sleeplessness. In addition to relaxing, stretching, and making mental adjustments, it is particularly important to choose some Qi-regulating and palatable foods. Examples include radishes, rosebuds, lotus root, hawthorn, and oranges.
Ding Zhen Soup King — Rehmannia Lily and Pork Soup
Ingredients: 50g lily, 20g rehmannia root, 200g lean pork, and appropriate seasonings.
Method: First, wash the lily and rehmannia root. Wash the lean pork and slice it. Place all ingredients in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer for 2 hours. Add seasonings before serving.
Effects: Cooling and heat-relieving, summer-heat relieving and mind-calming. Also suitable for those with constipation and hot, scanty urine.
Ding Zhen Soup King — Lotus Seed and Coix Seed Soup
Ingredients: 120g lotus seeds, 100g coix seeds, 100g fox nuts, and appropriate rock sugar.
Method: Place the lotus seeds, fox nuts, and coix seeds in a pot with water and cook for 1 hour. Add rock sugar before serving.
Effects: Nourishing Yin and calming the mind, clearing heat and dispelling summer heat.