In the summer, many people experience a poor appetite. This is because the high temperatures in summer cause the body's "heart fire" to flare up, leading to a decline in spleen and stomach function. So, what should you eat for summer wellness? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests that for summer health preservation, one should eat more light and nourishing foods. Here are 10 recommended foods to clear heat, relieve summer heat, and nourish the heart, helping you stay healthy and refreshed throughout the summer.
1. Lotus Seed
Summer is the best time to nourish the heart, as the heart is most vulnerable during this season. The scorching heat can easily lead to irritability and emotional distress, which can harm the heart's blood. TCM believes that lotus seeds are neutral in nature, sweet and astringent in taste, and they act on the heart, lung, and kidney meridians. They have the effects of tonifying the spleen, benefiting the lungs, nourishing the heart, strengthening the kidneys, and securing the intestines. The alkaloids in the lotus seed core have a significant strengthening effect on the heart, and lienine has a strong effect against calcium and arrhythmia. Regular consumption can make one's heart-qi abundant, leading to a more cheerful and outgoing personality. Drinking lotus seed core tea can clear heart fire, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and restlessness, and even help relieve depressive emotions caused by events like a breakup, making it a very beneficial food.
However, it should be noted that consuming too many lotus seeds can easily cause symptoms like bloating and belching. For patients with chronic stomach diseases, eating lotus seeds can more easily lead to stomach discomfort. Therefore, it is recommended that those with chronic stomach conditions consume them with caution.
Yam and Lotus Seed Soy Milk
2. Bitter Melon
On hot summer days, the body's gastrointestinal function weakens, and digestive secretions decrease, often leading to a poor appetite and loss of desire to eat. "Bitterness," one of the "five flavors," can stimulate a person's appetite. The TCM dietary principle for the beginning of summer is to "nourish yang" in spring and summer. Nourishing yang focuses on nourishing the heart, and bitter melon is a top choice for clearing the heart and reducing fire, in line with the physiological characteristics of heart nourishment during the transition from spring to summer.
Regular consumption of bitter melon can also enhance skin vitality, making the skin delicate and healthy. Using fresh bitter melon to make juice or a decoction is an excellent adjuvant therapeutic food for liver fire causing red eyes, stomach pain, and damp-heat dysentery. Applying mashed fresh bitter melon externally can treat boils and carbuncles. In summer, children are prone to heat rash; rubbing the rash with slices of bitter melon can speed up recovery. Boiling bitter melon in water or cooking it as a dish can help dissipate heat and relieve summer heat.
Black Bean Sauce and Chili Stir-fried Chicken with Bitter Melon
3. Pumpkin
TCM believes that pumpkin has the effects of tonifying the middle jiao, replenishing qi, and moistening the intestines to promote bowel movements. It is rich in nutrients like protein and amino acids, and also contains abundant carotene, which can help protect vision, improve blood sugar, and strengthen the heart and kidneys.
Modern medical research has shown that the pectin in pumpkin can also protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from irritation by coarse foods and promote the healing of ulcers, making it suitable for patients with stomach problems. The components in pumpkin can promote bile secretion and enhance gastrointestinal motility, aiding food digestion. Moreover, the rich carotenoids in pumpkin can be converted into vitamin A, which has important physiological functions in the body, such as promoting the growth and differentiation of epithelial tissues, maintaining normal vision, and promoting bone development.
Pumpkin Bear Toast
4. Cucumber
Cucumber is rich in nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Modern medical research has shown that the cucumber enzyme in fresh cucumbers can effectively promote the body's metabolism, dilate the skin's capillaries, promote blood circulation, and enhance the skin's redox reaction, giving cucumber a beautifying effect. At the same time, cucumber is rich in vitamins, which can provide sufficient nutrients for the skin and effectively fight skin aging. In addition, cucumber also has the effects of clearing heat, promoting urination to drain dampness, detoxifying and reducing swelling, and promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst. It can be used as an adjuvant treatment for conditions such as fever and thirst, sore throat, wind-heat eye diseases, damp-heat jaundice, and difficult urination.
Cucumber and Carrot Soy Milk
5. Mung Bean
Mung bean soup is a common summer drink for clearing heat and stimulating the appetite, suitable for all ages. It is especially suitable for summer symptoms such as damp-heat retention, dry mouth and thirst, dark and hot urine, constipation, and red, swollen, and painful eyes. However, it should be reminded that mung beans are cold in nature and can easily damage the stomach's qi. People with chronic gastritis, chronic enteritis, or a weak spleen and stomach should not eat too much. Mung bean powder also has a significant effect of lowering blood lipids. Mung beans contain a globulin and polysaccharide that can promote the decomposition of cholesterol in the liver into bile acids, accelerate the secretion of bile salts in bile, and reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.
Furthermore, the active ingredients in mung beans have anti-allergic effects and can help treat allergic reactions such as urticaria. Mung beans have an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus. The protein and phospholipids in mung beans can excite the nervous system and increase appetite. Mung beans are rich in trypsin inhibitors, which can protect the liver, reduce protein breakdown, decrease azotemia, and thus protect the kidneys.
American Ginseng and Sea Cucumber Soup
Spinach egg tofu soup
Macalon's woodcake
Fruit salad
Toast sandwich
Cheese juice tofu