Eating more "sour" foods in the summer aids digestion and relieves indigestion.

Introduction: In the summer, the hot weather can cause excessive sweating, leading to a significant loss of body fluids and various nutrients. This not only makes people more susceptible to intestinal diseases but can also lead to overall fatigue and loss of appetite. We recommend that you eat more "sour" foods during the summer. They can help control sweating, stop diarrhea, and expel dampness. This can prevent the depletion of vital energy and body fluids from excessive sweating, while also promoting the production of saliva to quench thirst, and strengthening the stomach to aid digestion.

In the height of summer, when you sweat a lot, vinegar is not only an indispensable condiment in our daily lives but also a medicinal substance with many important functions, such as: aiding digestion and absorption. Eating more vinegar can increase stomach acid concentration, boost appetite, and promote the secretion of digestive juices, facilitating the release of calcium ions from calcium-containing substances. It helps regulate the body's acid-base balance, alleviating and eliminating fatigue. It enhances the gastrointestinal tract's ability to kill bacteria and strengthens liver function. It also helps dilate blood vessels, preventing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Bamboo Shoots with Wood Ear Salad

Furthermore, people are more prone to fatigue in the summer. The acetic acid in vinegar can boost metabolism, helping people recover their energy. Vinegar also has a strong ability to inhibit bacteria and can prevent intestinal infectious diseases like typhoid and dysentery. Adding vinegar to cold dishes in the summer can have a sterilizing effect. This is especially true for cold seafood dishes, such as jellyfish, and adding vinegar to seafood can prevent food poisoning caused by *Vibrio parahaemolyticus*. Vinegar-pickled foods not only add flavor but also act as a preservative.

Old-Fashioned Vinegar Peanuts

There are many ways to consume vinegar. You can use it as a dip, or add it when stir-frying vegetables just before the pan reaches its highest temperature. When stewing meats, bones, or skin, you can also add a little vinegar. This not only helps these foods cook through faster but also promotes the full breakdown of their proteins. It's worth noting that while drinking vinegar is beneficial to the human body, it should not be consumed in excess and should be adjusted according to the individual. Those with stomach ulcers or excessive stomach acid should avoid it, as it can not only burn the digestive tract, damage the esophageal and gastric mucosa, and worsen the condition, but also affect the body's acid-base balance. For such individuals, drinks like mung bean soup or chrysanthemum tea can be consumed to prevent summer heat and cool down. You should rinse your mouth immediately after consumption to protect your teeth.

Cold Chicory with Peanuts