To protect your stomach, the first step is to eat a good breakfast:
Breakfast should be hot. Eating "hot food" is essential to protect "stomach qi". In the morning, the body's muscles, nerves, and blood vessels are in a state of contraction. Consuming cold food and drinks at this time can cause these systems to constrict further and impede blood circulation. Over time, this will damage stomach qi, preventing the body from absorbing the essence of food. This can lead to persistently loose stools, worsening skin condition, a constant feeling of phlegm in the throat, frequent colds, and a host of minor ailments.
Breakfast should be rich in moisture and nutrition. You should opt for hot rice porridge, hot oatmeal, hot goat's milk, hot tofu pudding, hot soy milk, sesame paste, Chinese yam congee, etc., and then pair them with vegetables, bread, sandwiches, fruits, and pastries. Milk can easily cause phlegm and allergies, making it unsuitable for long-term consumption by people with respiratory, digestive, or skin problems, or those living in humid climates. Cereal foods break down quickly into glucose in the body, which can correct morning hypoglycemia and enhance brain activity, as well as improve the body's utilization of nutrients in milk and soy milk. Adequate protein and fat from sources like eggs, soy products, lean meat, and peanuts not only make food stay in the stomach longer but also keep you energetic throughout the morning. Eating more fruits and vegetables not only replenishes water-soluble vitamins and fiber but also neutralizes the acids produced in the body after the oxidation of foods like meat, eggs, and grains, helping to maintain a healthy acid-base balance.