The end of heat is approaching, suggesting the elderly: “1 don’t get up early, 2 don’t overdo it, 3 don’t overdo it, 4 don’t eat,” don’t be careless!
The annual end of heat is about to arrive. After the end of heat, the temperature will gradually decrease, and the temperature difference between morning and evening will increase. The body will finally feel cooler, no longer sweating profusely like in summer. However, after a hot summer, due to a large amount of sweating, the body will burden the cardiovascular system, nervous system, etc. With the high summer temperatures, people cannot get enough sleep, the body’s energy is excessively consumed, losing a lot of “reserves.” Therefore, after the end of heat arrives, our diet and daily routine need to be adjusted appropriately, especially for the elderly, remember to “1 don’t get up early, 2 don’t overdo it, 3 don’t overdo it, 4 don’t eat,” don’t be careless!
1. 1 don’t get up early – Don’t get up too early.
Elderly people have shallow sleep and often wake up before dawn. After the end of heat arrives, the hot weather gradually cools down. Many elderly people get up early, go out for morning exercises. It is suggested not to get up too early. Closing your eyes and resting on the bed is good. Sleep an extra hour, and maintain the habit of nap. This can refresh you and conserve energy before winter arrives. Also, going out too early for exercises with insufficient oxygen concentration in the air is not beneficial to the body.
2. 2 don’t overdo it – Don’t exercise excessively, don’t overnourish.
1. Don’t exercise excessively.
Exercise is known to be good for health, but never overdo it, especially for the elderly. It is best not to engage in vigorous activities for extended periods as it accelerates blood circulation, generates excess heat which is detrimental for the elderly, possibly leading to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, exercise for the elderly should be guided by the principle of avoiding exhaustion. If feeling tired, take a break, drink water to hydrate the body. Choose activities like jogging, practicing Tai Chi, which are less intense to improve fitness.
2. Don’t overnourish.
With the arrival of autumn, the comfortable temperatures make appetites better. To compensate for the summer’s shortcomings, people tend to overnourish. Despite good living conditions, unless one is weak and specifically in need of nourishment, overnourishing is not ideal. Overnourishing during the end of heat can lead to internal heat accumulation. Moreover, during this period, when the climate can still be relatively hot, the digestive system’s absorption capacity might be weakened. Consuming overly nourishing foods can burden the digestive system. Therefore, during the end of heat, a moderately rich diet is sufficient, there’s no need to overnourish.
3. 3 don’t – Don’t stay up late, don’t seek coolness, don’t worry too much.
1. Don’t stay up late.
People are usually busy nowadays. In rural areas, many people have to work and tend to the fields. Fieldwork is usually done after returning home from work, sometimes working until dark before having dinner, then rushing with work from the unit. Staying up late regularly is not good. It’s important to ensure adequate sleep. Avoid staying up late daily, even if it’s busy, make sure to sleep before 11:00 PM, ensuring a 6-hour sleep duration that is beneficial for the body.
2. Don’t seek coolness.
As the saying goes: “Great heat, small heat, not quite heat, Start of autumn, end of heat, true heat.” During the end of heat period, it can still be quite hot at times. Therefore, avoid seeking too much coolness; don’t use cold water for bathing, avoid sleeping in drafty areas, and don’t keep the air conditioning on all night long. Set it to time mode so it automatically turns off after a few hours of sleep. As the end of heat period can have hot days but cool evenings, seeking excessive coolness is not good for the body.
3. Don’t be overly sad.
After the end of heat, autumn truly arrives. Crops and plants start ripening and gradually withering, a sight that can lead to worry, melancholy, triggering sentimental memories. Therefore, in autumn’s comfortable temperatures, the elderly can go out, socialize, chat to keep a cheerful mood; avoid staying alone at home feeling melancholic as it could affect health negatively in the long run.
4. 4 don’t eat – Don’t eat autumn melon, ginger, dead crabs, overnight cooked dishes.
1. Don’t eat autumn melon.
During summer, melons are favored for their heat-relieving properties. However, as the end of heat arrives, the temperatures start dropping, especially at dawn and dusk, becoming cooler. It’s best to avoid consuming these cooling foods. Eating such cold foods post-end of heat can lead to indigestion, even triggering diarrhea. There’s a saying “Autumn melon spoils the stomach,” signifying this. Hence, after the end of heat arrives, it’s better to reduce consumption of autumn melons.
2. Don’t eat ginger.
Entering autumn, the climate becomes dry, which harms the lungs. Focus on moistening the lungs, avoid consuming spicy foods, especially old ginger, which can further stress the lungs, exacerbating moisture loss leading to dryness. Post-end of heat, increase water intake; increasing fluid intake is essential to combat autumn dryness. Besides water, consider drinking honey water to nourish yin and moisten dryness.
3. Don’t eat dead crabs.
As the saying goes, “Autumn wind sounds, crab legs itch.” After the end of heat, a large quantity of crabs flood the market, plump, tender, and fresh. However, once crabs are out of water, improper storage can lead to oxygen depletion and eventual death. Some older people reluctant to discard these crabs might clean and consume them after boiling. Dead crabs contain various pathogenic bacteria and can cause illness if consumed, so avoid eating dead crabs.
4. Don’t eat overnight cooked dishes.
It’s said, “Illness comes from your mouth,” emphasizing the link between food hygiene and disease. Post-end of heat, though overnight cooked dishes may still look appetizing, the action of microorganisms begins to spoil them. With significant temperature variations between day and night after the end of heat, the gut’s resistance and adaptability decrease. Regular consumption of overnight dishes can lead to gastrointestinal problems like bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
In autumn, consume foods that moisten the lungs and reduce dryness, such as tremella, lily, lotus seeds, honey, celery, spinach, glutinous rice, sesame, beans, dairy products, etc. Eat moderately and frequently. Also, include seasonal fruits like pears, grapes, peaches, beneficial for hydration and lung moistening, the fruits most suitable for autumn.
About the customs during the end of heat, this is what I share. What are the customs during the end of heat in your hometown? Feel free to share in the comments, let’s discuss together. Your feedback is appreciated. Thank you for reading, updates on delicious foods every day. That’s all for today’s sharing. If you found it helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with others, and don’t forget to follow for more content. See you tomorrow.
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