Autumn is a season when "internal heat" (or "huo qi") is easily generated. Once this internal heat builds up, it can easily lead to irritability and mood swings. So, what should you eat in the fall to reduce internal heat? Below are four categories of foods recommended for clearing internal heat in the autumn, which can effectively reduce heat and prevent illness.
1. Pumpkin
Pumpkin can prevent chapped lips, nosebleeds, and dry skin. It can also boost the body's immunity and improve symptoms of autumn dryness. However, pumpkin should be eaten in moderation; the daily amount should not exceed a main meal, but it shouldn't be too little either. You can make "Purple Rice and Pumpkin Porridge." Method: Slice the pumpkin, wash the rice and red dates, and put them together in a pot with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and cook until the rice is soft.
2. Loquat
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, loquats are considered sweet, sour, and neutral in nature. They have benefits such as moistening the lungs to stop coughing, quenching thirst, harmonizing the stomach, and promoting urination to clear heat. They are suitable for autumn consumption and can also help prevent illness. If stored in the refrigerator, loquats may turn black due to excess moisture. It's generally best to store them in a dry, well-ventilated place. Because loquats contain polyphenols, they can easily brown and change color after peeling. To prevent discoloration, soak them in cold water, sugar water, or salt water. Unripe loquabs must not be eaten. Note: Diabetics should avoid loquats, and those with a weak spleen and loose stools should eat them sparingly or not at all.
3. Dried Fruits and Green Leafy Vegetables
Dried fruits and green leafy vegetables are the best sources of magnesium and folic acid. A deficiency in magnesium and folic acid can easily lead to anxiety. Magnesium is an important substance that strengthens the heart, ensuring it has enough power during the dry season. Folic acid, on the other hand, helps maintain blood quality, thereby improving nutrient absorption for the nervous system. You can moderately eat more lotus root, sea fish, bananas, walnuts, melon seeds, hazelnuts, spinach, celery, lettuce, etc.
4. Legumes and Grains
Legumes and grains contain Vitamin B. Vitamin B1 is an important nutrient for the body's nerve endings, while Vitamin B6 helps stabilize cell states and provide energy to various cells. Vitamin B1 and B6 are most abundant in whole grains and legumes. In the autumn, you can eat whole grains or porridge 3-5 times a week, such as barley, Job's tears, corn, red beans, soybeans, and rice. Additionally, you can regularly eat things like brown rice crackers, brown rice cakes, and whole wheat bread.
Special Reminder: To prevent autumn dryness, drink more plain water and less sugary beverages. Have more soups and vegetables on your table, and fewer greasy and meat dishes. Autumn offers a variety of fruits, which can help produce saliva to quench thirst, stimulate the appetite, and aid digestion. Recommended autumn fruits include apples, pears, sugarcane, citrus, persimmons, pomegranates, grapes, and red dates.