As the late phase of heat comes to an end, it’s important to be mindful of our diet. Remember to “avoid 1 thing, minimize 2 flavors, and regularly eat 3 types” to smoothly transition into autumn!
“As we approach autumn, we notice that the fans are gradually becoming less necessary.” The late phase of heat begins on August 14 this year, marking the final segment of the dog days of summer, as well as the first geng day after the start of autumn. Once this late phase ends, the 40-day extended period of summer heat will be behind us! The unbearable heat will gradually dissipate, and we will officially enter the autumn season.
Although autumn has technically begun, the heat remains quite intense. As the elderly say, “It’s tough to get through the ten days after autumn starts,” which implies that the weather during the late phase after autumn transforms from humid heat to dry heat. During this transitional phase between summer and autumn, we must focus on heat prevention and cooling down, as well as hydration and controlling dryness. We also need to be mindful of our diet to nourish yin, moisturize dryness, and clear heat while maintaining the principle of “avoid 1 thing, minimize 2 flavors, and regularly eat 3 types” for a smooth transition into autumn!
1. Avoid 1 thing — don’t blast the air conditioning excessively to seek comfort.
As we enter the late phase, the weather remains hot, but it’s already autumn, and there will be a slight cool breeze in the mornings and evenings. If we continue to excessively blast the air conditioning during this time, it can be detrimental to our health. Therefore, one should avoid taking cold showers, swimming in rivers for extended periods, and direct exposure to air conditioning or fans while sleeping at night. Simply put, do not seek excessive coolness; otherwise, the coldness within the body will accumulate, potentially leading to issues like poor circulation of qi and blood, and a sensitivity to cold during the winter.
2. Minimize 2 flavors — cooling flavors and spicy flavors.
1. Cooling flavors.
During the hot summer days, we should consume more cooling foods to clear heat and refresh, such as bitter melon, watermelon, cold drinks, and chilled mung bean soup. However, as we enter the late phase, we need to gradually reduce these cooling foods until we stop eating them altogether. Consuming excessive cooling foods at this time can burden the digestive system, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea, and in severe cases, may even trigger gastritis or enteritis.
2. Spicy flavors.
Many children, when lacking appetite, might eat stimulating foods to boost their appetite, like spicy chicken, spicy crab, or spicy crayfish, which may taste particularly delicious. However, once we enter the late phase after autumn begins, the climate slowly transitions to dryness, and we should be mindful not to indulge in spicy foods excessively, as they can easily lead to symptoms like mouth ulcers and constipation.
3. Regularly eat 3 types — autumn fruits, vegetables, and soups.
1. Autumn fruits.
There’s an old saying: “Eat sprouts in spring, melons in summer, fruits in autumn, and roots in winter.” Autumn is the season when a large number of fruits ripen, including jujubes, citrus, apples, pears, kiwis, and so on. Autumn fruits typically contain ample water, various vitamins, and trace elements, all of which are essential nutrients for the body. Consuming these can help with hydration and skin nourishment. Especially apples, which are considered “the king of fruits,” earning the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Recommended dish: 【Snow Fungus Apple Soup】
Main ingredients: apple, snow fungus, red dates, goji berries.
Seasoning: rock candy.
Steps: 1. Soak the snow fungus in water; discard the yellow parts and chop into smaller pieces for better extraction. Wash and peel the apple, then cut it into chunks. Clean the red dates and remove the pits, keeping them for use, and rinse the goji berries as well.
