Introduction: Struggling with what to eat at mealtimes, finding nothing appealing, and nothing tasting good… In fact, the causes of poor appetite vary, and randomly eating sour foods may not be effective.
For poor appetite from excessive cold, eat more warming foods. In the scorching heat, many people can't resist the temptation of cold treats, but overindulging can easily lead to a cold stomach, affecting appetite. Experts suggest that if you've eaten too many "raw, cold, and spicy" foods, you can add moderate amounts of warming ingredients like bell peppers, scallions, ginger, or garlic to your cooking to help balance and aid digestion. Additionally, perilla leaf can help expel cold. Mixing perilla leaves with cucumber can enhance appetite.
Microwaved Steamed Crab with Perilla
For poor appetite from bloating, often drink tangerine peel water. If you feel full after eating very little, it might be due to high temperatures reducing blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract, preventing food from being properly digested. It then ferments abnormally in the gut, producing gas and causing bloating. Experts suggest soaking about 20 grams of fresh tangerine peel in water to drink, which can help relieve qi stagnation and reduce bloating. If fresh tangerine peel isn't available, 10 grams of dried tangerine peel can be used as a substitute. Furthermore, regularly eating vegetables like cabbage, celery, winter melon, and bitter melon can help alleviate bloating to some extent.
For poor appetite from heavy dampness, drink more congee. Even if your body is sending hunger signals, you have no appetite to eat. This could be caused by the hot and humid weather, allowing dampness to enter the body and weakening the spleen and stomach. Summer is a season for abundant fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, and pears, which can increase internal dampness if consumed in excess. Experts recommend cooking congee with dampness-removing ingredients like lotus seeds, coix seed, red beans, and hyacinth beans to eliminate dampness while protecting the spleen and stomach, which can help stimulate appetite.
Osmanthus and Lotus Seed Soup
For poor appetite from zinc deficiency, eat more seafood. Many believe that a poor appetite is caused by overeating or eating spoiled food, overlooking a key factor—nutrient deficiency. Zinc is an essential trace mineral for the human body, promoting growth and development and improving taste. A zinc deficiency can lead to a diminished sense of taste, causing loss of appetite, picky eating, and an imbalance in gut bacteria. Experts suggest that the best way to supplement zinc is through diet. Daily consumption of zinc-rich foods such as seafood, beef, lamb, animal liver, egg yolks, and nuts is recommended.
In addition to these, if you have a poor appetite and are on the leaner side, you might consider drinking a little red wine before a meal to stimulate your appetite. For this seasonal "autumn tiger" loss of appetite, drinking hot tea and hot congee can help warm the spleen and boost your appetite.
Lamb Pilaf