Core Tip: With the New Year approaching, unit and family reunion dinners are popular, and hot pot is a favorite among friends and family who love to gather around the stove for a hot pot meal. It's lively and warm! However, the following "Five Lesses" are something people should know when eating hot pot.
Three Major Causes of "Heatiness" from Eating Hot Pot
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, "heatiness" refers to internal dry-heat, which causes various "dry" symptoms in the body. According to Lei Haiyan, Associate Chief Physician of the Gastroenterology Department at Liwan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the causes of heatiness from eating hot pot are mainly the following three points:
First, the spiciness of the broth or seasonings.
Generally, Sichuan-style red broth hot pot is the most stimulating. It contains a series of spicy ingredients like chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise in the base. Although this hot pot is very flavorful, eating too much can often disrupt the spleen and stomach's digestive function, leading to internal dry-heat and dampness, which in turn causes "heatiness," such as a sore throat, swollen gums, mouth sores, chapped lips, oral ulcers, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Second, excessive consumption of "warm-natured" meats.
Many people who eat hot pot prefer high-calorie foods like lamb, beef, and dog meat. What they don't realize is that these foods are mostly "warm-natured." Taking lamb as an example, it nourishes the blood and strengthens yang, making it a very "hot" food. Therefore, after eating lamb, a person feels warm all over. However, for someone with strong internal heat, eating lamb can lead to signs of heatiness.
Third, blindly adding medicinal herbs for tonification.
Adding medicinal herbs to the broth serves two purposes: one is for health and tonification, and the other is to remove the gamey taste of the food, which is why medicinal hot pots are very popular. However, these herbal hot pots are not suitable for everyone. For instance, the Shenshen Yuzhu Old Duck Soup is only suitable for patients with lung dryness, dry cough, or constipation. For those with yang deficiency or cold phlegm, it can have the opposite effect. Therefore, whether you are suitable for tonification depends on your own body constitution.
4 Tips to Help You Eat Hot Pot Without Getting "Heaty"
To avoid getting "heaty" from eating hot pot, the main thing is to pay attention to pairing. Pair it with more vegetables and tofu, choose your drinks appropriately, eat slowly, and don't overdo the numbness, spiciness, and heat. It's better to sacrifice a moment of intense flavor and avoid or eat less spicy food, and limit your intake of "warm" foods. This way, you might not get "heaty" anymore.
(1) The "Three Treasures" for Reducing Heatiness are Essential
Spicy hot pot is both loved and hated. To avoid adding fuel to the fire, Lei Haiyan suggests that when eating red broth hot pot, pay attention to balance and eat more foods that clear heat and nourish yin.
Vegetables: When eating hot pot, pair it with plenty of green leafy vegetables. These vegetables are generally "cool" in nature and can not only cut through the greasiness and supplement the body's vitamins, but also have a cooling, detoxifying, and heat-reducing effect.
Tofu: After eating lamb or beef, add some tofu to the hot pot. Tofu contains gypsum, which has the effects of clearing heat, purging fire, relieving restlessness, and quenching thirst, and can alleviate symptoms of heatiness.
Lotus Seeds: Add some lotus seeds (with the hearts not removed) to the hot pot. This has the effects of nourishing the body, clearing the mind, and purging fire.
(2) Don't Rush for Hot and Spicy; Let It Cool Down First
The oral cavity, esophagus, and stomach lining can generally only tolerate temperatures of 50-60°C, while the temperature of hot pot broth can be as high as 120°C. If you eat food as soon as it's cooked, it's easy to scald the mouth, esophagus, and stomach lining. Coupled with the stimulation of spices, it can easily cause or induce various digestive tract inflammations and ulcers. Therefore, when you take food out of the pot, don't be in a hurry to eat it. It's best to place it in a small dish to cool down a bit and savor it slowly. For people who already have digestive diseases, it's better to choose a light hot pot with less oil and less spice.
(3) Drinking Fruit Juice Can Help Cool Down
The order of eating hot pot is very important. It's best to start with a small glass of fresh fruit juice or a carbonated drink. This not only whets the appetite, but the cool feeling can also cool down the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. However, people who are controlling their weight, the elderly, and those with high blood sugar are not very suitable for carbonated drinks. Therefore, yogurt, almond milk, coconut milk, and cool herbal tea are more suitable for people with chronic diseases and the elderly.
(4) Control the Time Within Two Hours
Eating too much hot pot can easily lead to heatiness. It should not be more than once a week, and each time should be controlled within two hours. The broth in the hot pot becomes "dry-heat" after being boiled for a long time.