During the "Sanfu" days, reduce bitter foods and increase sour and salty ones
The hot weather can easily lead to irritability, restlessness, fatigue, and listlessness. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that during this period, the liver's energy gradually weakens while the spleen's energy flourishes. Therefore, for dietary health, it is advisable to reduce bitter foods and increase sour and salty ones, while also consuming less greasy food to nourish the liver and support the kidneys.
In the summer, excessive sweating leads to a significant loss of salt. If the heart muscle lacks salt, its function can be affected. TCM states: "The heart dominates summer; if the heart's function is sluggish, one should urgently consume sour foods to astringe it." This means that at this time, one's diet should include more sour and salty foods and fewer bitter ones. It is also beneficial to eat more watermelon, tomatoes, and stir-fried mung bean sprouts. However, one should not become overly partial to any food, as this can not only lead to malnutrition but also harm the spleen, stomach, and other organs.
Do not wait until you are extremely hungry to eat, and do not eat to the point of being overly full. Do not wait until you are extremely thirsty to drink, and do not drink to excess. Overeating leads to food stagnation, and overdrinking can cause phlegm and dampness. People are most prone to overeating and overdrinking when they are extremely hungry or thirsty, and this hasty consumption can damage health. Therefore, even when you are ravenous or parched, you should eat and drink slowly. Additionally, if you have no appetite, do not force yourself to eat.