During the hot season, many people experience poor appetite, reduced digestive function, and symptoms such as fatigue, lassitude, and gastric discomfort. Some even develop gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to dietary regulation and adopt corresponding measures during the hot season.
One, increase the intake of some bitter foods. The alkaloids contained in bitter foods have pharmacological effects such as relieving summer heat, clearing heat, promoting blood circulation, and dilating blood vessels. Appropriately eating some bitter foods like bitter melon and bitter lettuce, as well as bitter items such as beer, tea, coffee, and cocoa on hot days can not only refresh the mind, relieve irritability, and sharpen the senses, but also stimulate appetite and strengthen the spleen and stomach.
Two, supplement salts and vitamins. During high-temperature seasons, it is best for each person to supplement daily with nutrients such as vitamins B and C, as well as calcium and sodium. This can reduce the consumption of carbohydrates and tissue proteins in the body and is beneficial to health. You can eat more foods rich in the above-mentioned nutrients, such as watermelon, cucumber, tomato, beans and their products, animal liver and kidneys, and dried shrimp.
Three, avoid overconsumption of cold drinks and beverages. When the weather is hot, eating some cold drinks or beverages can play a certain role in relieving summer heat and lowering the body temperature. However, ice cream and ice cream bricks are made from milk, egg powder, sugar, and other ingredients and should not be eaten in excess. Overconsumption can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, cause irregular contractions, and induce ailments such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. There are many varieties of beverages, most of which have low nutritional value, so it is better to drink less. Excessive drinking can damage the spleen and stomach, affect appetite, and even lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Four, do not treat beer as a beverage. In the summer, high temperatures cause the body to sweat more, leading to greater consumption and fatigue. If you continuously drink beer as a beverage to quench your thirst, the "warm" sensation caused by alcohol will persist, and the thirst and sweating will become more severe. This not only fails to achieve the goal of cooling off in summer but also reduces a person's thinking ability and work efficiency.
Five, supplement potassium. In the summer, sweating a lot leads to a significant loss of potassium ions through sweat. The resulting low blood potassium can cause symptoms such as fatigue, lassitude, dizziness, headache, and loss of appetite. The most effective way to prevent potassium deficiency in hot weather is to eat more potassium-rich foods. Fresh vegetables and fruits contain a relatively high amount of potassium; you can eat some fruits such as strawberries, apricots, lychees, and peaches as appropriate. Vegetables like green vegetables, scallions, and edamame are also rich in potassium.
Six, focus on nourishment. Summer requires nourishment, with the principle of "light nourishment." The meaning of light nourishment is to select foods that are beneficial for nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen, relieving summer heat, and resolving dampness. Examples include duck, crucian carp, shrimp, and edible fungi (such as shiitake, mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and tremella). In addition, you can also consume some "summer-relieving medicinal porridges" like mung bean porridge and hyacinth bean porridge, which have the effect of expelling summer heat and promoting the production of body fluids.
Seven, pay attention to food hygiene. Meals should be prepared and eaten fresh. Raw fruits and vegetables should be washed and disinfected. When making cold dishes, add minced garlic and vinegar, which can not only season the food but also kill bacteria and stimulate appetite. Do not overindulge in cold food to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from taking advantage of the opportunity to invade the body.
Eight, maintain regular meal times. In the summer, you should eat on time and not eat whenever you feel like it or skip meals when you don't. This can disrupt the normal functioning of the spleen and stomach, causing their physiological functions to become disordered and leading to stomach problems.