The summer heat and humidity can be irritating, and when combined with overcast and rainy days, it can lead to an excess of dampness and heat in the body, easily causing damp-heat conditions. Women, in particular, should pay attention to preventing and expelling dampness during the summer. The following six foods are common in daily life and not only delicious but also effective in removing dampness and detoxifying.
1. Oats
Oats are a very effective food for removing dampness and detoxifying. They have a lubricating effect on the intestines, promoting bowel movements and gastrointestinal motility. Oats can be cooked into congee. Congee made from oatmeal is rich in magnesium and vitamin B1, and also contains phosphorus, potassium, iron, pantothenic acid, copper, and fiber. It can lower cholesterol and has auxiliary therapeutic effects on fatty liver, diabetes, and constipation. Unprocessed oat bran is rich in magnesium, vitamin B1, phosphorus, and potassium, and also contains iron, zinc, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and copper. Oatmeal can improve blood circulation and promote wound healing. It can also be cooked directly with milk for consumption. Many women who love beauty also use it for weight loss and as a beauty meal.
2. Job's Tears
Job's Tears is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine and also a common food. It is mild in nature and sweet in taste, with effects of promoting urination to reduce edema, strengthening the spleen to remove dampness, relaxing muscles and relieving pain, and clearing heat to drain pus. It is a commonly used diuretic and dampness-draining herb. Job's Tears is also a beauty food. Regular consumption can maintain the skin's radiance and fineness, and eliminate pimples, freckles, age spots, chloasma, and butterfly rash. It also has good therapeutic effects on desquamation, acne, chapping, and rough skin.
Burdock and Job's Tears Pork Rib Soup
3. Sweet Potato
Ancient texts such as "Compendium of Materia Medica" and "Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica" record that sweet potatoes have the effects of "nourishing deficiency and fatigue, replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and reinforcing the kidney yin," making people "long-lived and with few diseases." It can also tonify the middle jiao, harmonize the blood, warm the stomach, and nourish the five organs. The modern "Chinese Materia Medica" states: "Sweet taste, neutral nature. It enters the spleen and kidney meridians." "It tonifies the middle jiao and harmonizes the blood, replenishes qi and promotes body fluids, relaxes the stomach and intestines, and relieves constipation. It is indicated for splenic deficiency edema, sores and carbuncles, and intestinal dryness constipation."
4. Millet
Millet contains more protein than rice. Every 100 grams contains 1.7 grams of fat and 76.1 grams of carbohydrates, which are not lower than rice or wheat. It contains 0.12 milligrams of carotene per 100 grams, a nutrient not found in most grains, and its vitamin B1 content ranks first among all grains. Millet also contains mild fiber, is easy to digest, and does not irritate the stomach. It has detoxifying, heat-clearing, and diuretic effects. Consuming various millet congee and millet rice is the top choice for removing dampness, detoxifying, and beautifying.
Millet and Vegetable Soup
5. Winter Melon
The dampness-removing effect of winter melon is second to none. It also eliminates edema, clears heat and relieves irritability, and promotes fluid production and detoxification. Drinking more winter melon soup provides both internal and external nourishment. Moreover, the malonic acid contained in winter melon can effectively inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. Coupled with the fact that winter melon itself is fat-free and low in calories, it is significant for preventing weight gain and can help maintain a healthy figure.
6. Red Beans
Red beans are neutral in nature with a slight coolness, and are sweet in taste. They have the effects of clearing the mind and nourishing the spirit, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the kidneys. Adding lotus seeds and lily can further solidify essence and qi, stop bleeding, and strengthen bones and muscles. It can treat lung dryness and dry cough, enhance the vitality of internal organs, and boost physical strength. Many people know that drinking mung bean water in the summer can relieve summer heat, but red beans are also an excellent food for removing dampness and detoxifying in the summer. Red beans are nutritious, can increase intestinal motility, reduce constipation, and promote urination. Home-style red bean and millet congee and red bean dumplings are good food choices for the summer.
Red Bean Soup with Dried Tangerine Peel
Lazy pork chops
Tomato fried rice
Spam