Introduction: It’s hot after the beginning of the dog days! Recommendation: Middle-aged and elderly should regularly have 3 soups to invigorate the spleen, dispel summer heat, and remove dampness to smoothly pass through the summer
As the summer progresses, we are greeted with the hottest period known as the “dog days of summer.” This is the time of the year when temperatures are at the highest, humidity is at its peak, and it is extremely sultry. In such weather, the body’s metabolism accelerates, leading to increased sweating and significant loss of body fluids and nutrients.
Therefore, during the dog days, proper dietary adjustments are especially crucial. As the saying goes, “During the dog days of summer, it’s better to skip meat and have an extra bowl of soup instead.” A refreshing bowl of soup not only replenishes the body with essential fluids and nutrients but also helps us combat the heat, cool down, feel energized, and stay alert. Today, let’s explore this miraculous dog days nourishing soup together!
1. The importance of the dog days nourishing soup
During the dog days, due to the high temperatures and humidity, people easily feel fatigued, weak, and may even suffer from heatstroke. At such times, a cooling bowl of soup becomes our lifesaver. It not only replenishes the body with water and nutrients but also helps regulate body temperature, dispel heat, and cool down. Moreover, the nutritional components in the soup are more easily absorbed by the body, which greatly contributes to enhancing the body’s immunity and promoting metabolism. Recommendation: Middle-aged and elderly should regularly have 3 soups to invigorate the spleen, dispel summer heat, and remove dampness for a smooth summer!
2. Ingredients and preparation of dog days nourishing soup
(A) Principles of ingredient selection
1. Light and plain: During the dog days of summer, the diet should be mainly light and plain, avoiding overly greasy and spicy foods to prevent increasing the body’s burden.
2. Rich in moisture: Choose ingredients rich in moisture, such as winter melon, loofah, cucumber, etc., to help the body replenish water.
3. Nutrient-rich: Ingredients should be rich in various vitamins and minerals, such as kelp, seaweed, tofu, etc., to meet the body’s nutritional needs.
(B) Recommended soups and preparation
1. Winter melon, coix seed, and old duck soup
Ingredients: 500g winter melon, 100g coix seed, half an old duck, 3 slices of ginger, salt to taste.
Preparation:
(1) Remove the feathers and internal organs of the old duck, wash and cut into pieces; peel and core the winter melon, wash and cut into pieces; rinse the coix seed.
(2) Put the old duck, coix seed, ginger into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour.
(3) Add the winter melon pieces, continue simmering for 30 minutes, season with salt, and it’s ready to be served.
Benefits: Winter melon cools heat and relieves summer heat, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling; coix seed invigorates the spleen, dispels dampness, cools heat, and eliminates pus; old duck clears heat, cools blood, nourishes yin. The combination of these ingredients is an excellent choice for the dog days.
2. Green bean and lily bulb soup
Ingredients: 100g green beans, 50g lily bulbs, rock sugar to taste.
Preparation:
(1) Wash the green beans and lily bulbs, soak for 30 minutes.
(2) Put the green beans and lily bulbs in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 40 minutes.
(3) Add rock sugar to taste, cook until the rock sugar dissolves.
Benefits: Green beans clear heat and detoxify; lily bulbs nourish yin, moisten the lungs, clear the mind, and soothe the nerves. This combination clears heat and detoxifies while nourishing yin and moisturizing the lungs, making it very suitable for consumption during the dog days.
3. Loofah and egg soup
Ingredients: 1 loofah, 2 eggs, salt to taste, a little chopped green onions.
Preparation:
(1) Peel and wash the loofah, slice thinly; beat the eggs and set aside.
(2) Fill a pot with an appropriate amount of water, add the sliced loofah, bring to a boil over high heat.
(3) Slowly pour the beaten eggs into the pot while stirring gently to create egg flowers.
(4) Season with salt, sprinkle with chopped green onions, and it’s ready to be served.
Benefits: Loofah clears heat and relieves summer heat; eggs provide protein and vitamins. This combination not only clears heat and relieves summer heat but also supplements the body with necessary nutrients.
3. Precautions for consuming dog days nourishing soup
1. Consume in moderation: Although soups are beneficial to the body, they should be consumed in moderation to avoid discomfort caused by overindulgence.
2. Avoid extreme hot temperature: Allow the soup to cool slightly after cooking before consuming to prevent scalding the mouth and esophagus.
3. Pay attention to ingredient combinations: When selecting ingredients, ensure a reasonable combination to avoid food incompatibility or adverse reactions.
4. Conclusion
Although the dog days of summer are unbearable, as long as we pay attention to dietary adjustments, we can easily get through it. A refreshing bowl of soup not only helps replenish water and nutrients but also combats the heat, cools down, keeps us energetic, and rejuvenates our spirits. I hope everyone can have a pleasant summer while enjoying delicious soups!
