Detox with These Three Dishes This Summer

Introduction: In the scorching summer, if your mouth ulcers are getting worse, your bowel movements are becoming less frequent, and small bumps keep appearing on your skin, your body is signaling to you: it's time to "detox"! This issue invites an expert to recommend several effective "detox foods" for you to try.

Morning: Cold-dressed Black Fungus with Vinegar

In summer, the body is prone to accumulating heat-toxins, which can cause irritability and heatstroke. If toxins continue to build up beyond the body's excretory capacity, they will become a health obstacle.

Black fungus, known as the "body's scavenger," can help expel toxins from the body. It is rich in dietary fiber, which promotes gastrointestinal motility and prevents constipation. However, black fungus is often adulterated, so when buying, be sure to select pieces of a moderate size, with a clean, flat surface, and that are crisp and break easily.

Vinegar-dressed black fungus is very suitable for summer consumption. Method: Soak dried black fungus in cold water for 3 to 4 hours. Then, remove the stems from the rehydrated fungus, wash it, and tear it into small pieces. Blanch in boiling water for about one minute, then remove and place in cold water to cool. Drain. Add vinegar, along with an appropriate amount of salt, sesame oil, minced ginger and garlic, and chopped green onions. Mix well. The vinegar-dressed black fungus has a crisp texture and an appetizing flavor. It also promotes blood circulation and resolves stasis. People with habitual constipation can eat it regularly.

Cold-dressed Black Fungus

Noon: Tofu and Pork Blood Stew

The plasma protein in pork blood, when broken down by gastric acid in the human body, produces detoxifying and bowel-cleansing substances that easily promote intestinal peristalsis, expelling excess feces to achieve a detoxifying effect. Pork blood contains a lot of protein and hemoglobin, which can promote protein metabolism. Its high iron content is also beneficial for people with anemia.

Tofu and pork blood stew is an excellent dish. The method is very simple: cut the pork blood and tofu into small cubes and stew them in clear water. Then, add some Chinese cabbage and a moderate amount of salt. Before serving, add a few drops of sesame oil. This dish is low in fat and has a pleasant taste. Moreover, combining plant and animal protein can improve the utilization rate of protein.

Experts remind that when buying pork blood, be sure to choose pieces with a smooth surface, elasticity, a bright red color, and no strange odor. If you are prone to "internal heat," you can choose duck blood, as it is "cool" in nature. People with gout or hyperuricemia should not eat it often.

Tofu, Black Fungus, and Pork Blood Stew

Evening: Kelp and Winter Melon Soup

The body produces toxins constantly, through processes like respiration, metabolism, and digestion. Poor detoxification can lead to symptoms like constipation and acne, so it is necessary to pay attention to detoxification in your diet. Food detoxification mainly works through two pathways: the kidneys and the intestines. Diuretic foods can speed up the body's metabolism of toxins to achieve detoxification; while foods that moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements expel toxins from accumulated feces by enhancing gastrointestinal motility.

Here, a cheap and effective detox meal is recommended: kelp and winter melon soup. Kelp is rich in colloidal substances that are not digested or absorbed by the human intestine, allowing it to adsorb harmful substances and toxins. Winter melon is a food that clears heat, reduces dampness, and promotes urination, and is a common vegetable eaten in the summer. You can also eat watermelon rind, which is also a diuretic food. This combination both removes dampness and relieves vexation, as well as promotes urination and bowel movements, making it quite effective for detoxification.

However, note that kelp is a seafood product with high levels of purines and iodine, so it is not recommended for patients with gout or hyperthyroidism.

Kelp and Winter Melon Soup