Introduction: As the weather gets hotter, besides turning on the air conditioner and staying indoors, what other "weapons" do you have for getting through the summer? Here are three types of vegetables you should eat more of in the summer.
The first category includes gourds such as winter melon, cucumber, bitter melon, and loofah.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, most gourds can clear heat and promote urination, helping to expel toxins, making them great foods for cooling down and preventing heatstroke. Modern nutritional research shows that most gourds contain over 90% water and are rich in various minerals and vitamins, effectively replenishing the large amounts of water and nutrients lost during the summer.
The second category includes "cooling" vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, celery, and lettuce.
Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests that eating cooling vegetables in the summer helps to generate fluids, quench thirst, relieve restlessness and summer heat, clear heat and detoxify, as well as promote detoxification and bowel movements.
The third category includes vegetables with "antibacterial" properties, such as garlic and onions.
High summer temperatures lead to rapid breeding and spread of germs, making intestinal diseases more common. Eating more "antibacterial" vegetables like chives, scallions, shallots, and green garlic at this time can help prevent illness.