As we transition from summer to autumn, how should we plan our diet? The weather gradually cools from hot, so our diet can no longer focus on cooling, heat-clearing, and fire-reducing foods like it did in the summer. How should we plan our diet for autumn? Let's find out.
What should we eat during the summer-to-autumn transition?
During this season, one should not overindulge in heavy tonics or have large amounts of fish and meat at every meal. A balanced approach is recommended. Due to the dry weather, you can eat some refreshing and lung-moistening foods, such as lily bulbs, honey, pear water with rock sugar, etc. It's important to have a balanced diet with a reasonable mix of vegetables and meat, and to eat less of raw and cold melons and fruits, as well as greasy foods. For the elderly, as their spleen and stomach functions decline, they should eat easily digestible foods and have smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overburdening their digestive system.
During the summer-to-autumn transition, the climate can change dramatically. Without proper attention, old illnesses can relapse or new ones can be triggered, so active measures should be taken to prevent disease. People with respiratory diseases have weakened immune defenses in their respiratory systems, and with the changing temperatures, it's easy for chronic conditions like bronchitis to relapse. On a daily basis, one should eat more fruits that clear heat, quench thirst, and resolve phlegm, such as pears and oranges; foods rich in high-quality protein, such as milk, lean meat, eggs, and soy products; fresh vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals, such as cucumbers, loofah, tomatoes, winter melon, and mung bean sprouts; and fruits like watermelon, lemon, and pineapple. For staple foods, easily digestible options like noodles, flat noodles, wontons, and congee are good choices. In addition, one should eat less hard, fibrous foods; avoid stimulating foods like green onions and onions to prevent worsening coughing and wheezing; and avoid greasy foods and alcohol.
During seasonal transitions, the skin is prone to various problems. People who break out in acne or suffer from sores and swellings should avoid fatty, rich, and spicy foods and eat more foods rich in dietary fiber. In early autumn, allergens also begin to increase, so people with allergies should avoid contact with them.
As the weather cools, people's appetite increases,加重ing the burden on gastrointestinal function. Autumn is also a high season for gastrointestinal diseases, and carelessness can easily lead to diarrhea. Therefore, when eating out, pay attention to food hygiene and avoid overeating, which can trigger acute gastroenteritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and other illnesses.
Eat fewer summer melons in late summer and early autumn
In late summer and early autumn, it's best to eat less of the "melon" family. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the spleen is believed to prefer dryness and dislike dampness. Dampness is already heavy during the long summer. If you get caught in the rain or don't change out of sweat-soaked clothes promptly, it's very easy for the spleen to be troubled by pathogenic dampness, leading to symptoms such as loss of appetite, loose stools, and heavy limbs. If you eat more cold foods at this time, it will further burden the spleen and stomach, which is why many people experience diarrhea. During this period, we must pay special attention to our diet and protect our gastrointestinal health. It's best to avoid chilled watermelon if possible. In late summer and early autumn, you can eat more autumn pears, red beans, and jujubes.