What should be noted for summer health preservation
Summer health preservation is an indispensable part of our annual rhythm. In this hot season, we not only need to adhere to healthy routines and living habits, but also persevere with these beneficial methods while continuously finding various conditioning methods that suit our needs based on the current situation. Let's take a look at the key points of health preservation for this summer.
First: Nourishing Yang
"When yang qi is insufficient, dampness cannot be expelled." Eating more tonics and medicines will be of no avail. The vast majority of diseases can be prevented and treated by nourishing yang qi and expelling dampness.
Of the four seasons, summer is the season with the most abundant yang qi. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that when the body's yang qi is flourishing, cultivating it further can help resist the invasion of diseases.
Reduce consumption of cold drinks: The summer heat is unbearable, and people tend to enjoy cold drinks and raw, cold foods. However, this can damage the spleen and stomach and consume yang qi. Therefore, in summer, it's best to eat less cold drinks and melons; drink warm water; and eat more warming and nourishing foods, such as red dates, goji berries, angelica, and meat.
Appropriate exercise: The external yang qi is most abundant in summer. More outdoor activities can replenish energy, regulate qi and blood, and nourish yang qi, but excessive exercise should be avoided.
Keep warm and avoid cold: Some people stay near electric fans or air conditioners all summer long. This allows cold air to invade the body through the skin and pores, which can easily damage the protective yang qi of the lungs and respiratory tract, leading to a decreased immune system in the upper respiratory tract and making it easier for bacteria and viruses to take advantage.
Massage the Yongquan point: TCM believes that "vitality is generated from the soles of the feet." The Yongquan point (KI1) is an important acupoint on the sole. The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "The kidney qi emerges from the Yongquan, which is the center of the sole." This means that the qi of the kidney meridian is like the water of a spring, originating from the soles and gushing out to nourish the entire body. Therefore, you can massage the Yongquan point in your spare time every day.
Walking to strengthen yang: Walking can also help preserve yang qi. Walk for about half an hour every day.
Second: Damp-Heat
Generally, summer is characterized by heat and dampness. People often experience symptoms like a heavy head, depression, lethargy, chest tightness, and poor appetite.
The summer diet should be light. You can eat more foods that clear heat and drain dampness, such as mung bean congee, lotus leaf congee, and red bean congee. Alternatively, you can make a soup with winter melon, lotus leaves, and Job's tears. In addition, it's important to open windows for ventilation.
Third: Sleep
In summer, the days are long and the nights are short, so many people go to bed late and wake up late, disrupting their biological clock.
Only by ensuring adequate sleep can the body's various functions operate normally. Summer health preservation through sleep should follow the natural pattern of abundant yang and deficient yin. Waking up early and taking a nap can make up for insufficient sleep. It is recommended that adults get 7 hours of high-quality sleep every day.
Fourth: Diet
In summer, meals should not be too full; usually, eating until about 70-80% full is sufficient. However, it's crucial to have a comprehensive and balanced nutritional intake. Additionally, high summer temperatures mean leftover food is easily contaminated by bacteria, so it's best to eat fresh food immediately. Fruits and vegetables to be eaten raw should be washed and peeled. Knives and cutting boards for cooked food should be separate from those for raw meat and vegetables.
Although people have different constitutions, everyone's diet should be regular and quantifiable, following the principle of "eat a good breakfast, a full lunch, and a light dinner." In summer, you should try to eat less spicy and fried food to protect the stomach and intestines.
At the same time, it's important to drink plenty of water and increase the intake of trace elements and vitamins.
Fifth: Fitness
Many people have a misconception that because they sweat more in summer, they can be lazy about exercise. In fact, it's still necessary to maintain a moderate amount of exercise in summer, but it should not be done in direct sunlight, and hydration should be replenished in a timely manner.
Exercise one hour after a meal, and the exercise should not be too intense. You can choose activities like walking, jogging, or swimming.