The ancient saying goes: “If you don’t endure bitterness during the three dog days, your body will suffer.” Here, the “bitterness” does not refer to the taste of bitterness, but rather to foods with the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, removing dampness, and relieving summer heat. During the dog days, consuming these “bitter” foods in moderation can help us stay cool in summer and maintain good health. Let’s take a look, does it make sense?
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1. Benefits of eating “bitter” foods during the dog days
During the scorching dog days, talking about the benefits of eating “bitter” foods actually reveals wisdom in understanding the harmony between nature and the human body. First of all, let’s ponder the question of “why.” In the hot summer days, like the vigorous fire in nature, traditional Chinese medicine ingeniously corresponds this season with the fire element of the five elements, further reflecting it on the core of the human body – the heart. If the heart fire is not balanced, it can feel like a raging flame burning the heart, causing a series of symptoms: restlessness, irritability like ants biting, sores and pain in the mouth, tossing and turning in bed at night with recurring nightmares.
At this time, bitter foods are like a timely rain, quietly entering the heart with their unique taste, effectively clearing the heart and reducing fire, just like a cool breeze brushing the face, taking away worries from the heart and bringing peace and tranquility. Not only do they calm the heart fire, but they also have the ability to remove dampness and alleviate irritability, like a touch of greenery in summer, bringing a hint of coolness and comfort to the body and mind.
Bitter foods also play a significant role in the spleen and stomach. They act as natural catalysts, stimulating the activity of gastric juices, making them flow actively. This not only awakens dormant taste buds but also promotes food digestion and absorption, rejuvenating the digestive system that may feel sluggish due to high temperatures. For common symptoms like loss of appetite and indigestion in summer, bitter foods are undoubtedly a natural remedy, allowing people to enjoy delicious food while reaping health and comfort benefits.
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2. Suitable “bitter” foods to eat during the dog days
1. Bitter Gourd
Tasting bitter gourd, the emerald green elf in the scorching summer, is not only a messenger of coolness in nature but also hailed as the “first melon of summer,” as if it were a remedy specially prepared by nature for the hot summer. Bitter gourd, a seemingly ordinary vegetable but bursting with infinite vitality, houses a rich treasury of vitamin C, akin to a miniature nutrient factory continuously supplying vitality and luster to the body. Moreover, it generously shares treasures of potassium, magnesium, and other minerals, nourishing every inch of skin and every cell.
When it comes to consuming bitter gourd, it’s a dual feast for the taste buds and health. Sliced finely or lightly stir-fried with a thin layer of oil to retain its original greenness and crispness, every bite offers gentle resistance to the summer heat; or cold-dressed with minced garlic and fragrant vinegar, where sweet, sour, and bitter flavors intertwine like the opening prelude of summer, arousing a dormant appetite.
Skillfully pairing it with lean meat’s richness and eggs’ delicacy, stewing slowly into a delicious soup not only entices with its tempting color but also finds a perfect balance between nourishment and coolness, such that one can almost hear the summer breeze brushing gently across the heart, feeling the refreshing and cozy sensations from within. Bitter gourd is not just a dish but a fresh poem about summer, health, and life.
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2. Lotus Seed Heart
Tasting lotus seed heart is a dual feast for the taste buds and the soul. This inconspicuous green germ, resembling the essence of lotus, lies hidden in the moist, jade-like lotus seed. Despite carrying a hint of indescribable bitterness, it’s precisely this purity and depth that gives it extraordinary health benefits. Its ability to clear the heart fire is like a clear breeze in summer, gently sweeping away restlessness and stuffiness, leaving a sense of tranquility and coolness.
Gently infusing lotus seed heart into tea, as it unfurls slowly in boiling water, releasing a faint natural fragrance that intertwines with the tea aroma, each sip tenderly soothes body and mind. This is not just a cup of tea but a baptism of the soul, offering a harbor of tranquility amidst busyness and clamor.
Alternatively, blending lotus seed heart with the purity of lily, the rosy redness of wolfberries, and simmering them together into a warm congee. The gracefulness of lily, the sweetness of wolfberries, and the bitterness of lotus seed heart harmonize with each other, quenching thirst, nourishing the heart and calming the spirit. It’s like nature’s most exquisite formula, nurturing every soul longing for peace and tranquility. Every spoonful of congee is a gentle nourishment for the body, a tender conversation for the soul, allowing one to savor the beauty and harmony of life.
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3. Dandelion
Speaking of dandelion, it is not just a flower dancing gracefully in the wind, shining all over the place, but also a low-key yet versatile “health guardian” in nature. As a representative of medicinal and edible plants, dandelion occupies an indispensable position in traditional Chinese medicine and daily health care with its unique charm.
Its emerald green leaves and underground roots are valuable gifts bestowed by nature. The light leaves are rich in various vitamins and minerals. A slight chew releases a fresh aroma, as if instantly dispelling the summer’s stuffiness and fatigue. The roots, deeper and more reserved, contain powerful heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, as if it were nature’s carefully concocted cool secret.
Under the scorching sun of the dog days, a cup of dandelion-infused clear tea flows through the heart like a mountain spring, bringing not only a refreshing coolness to the body but penetrating deep into the tissues, clearing heat, detoxifying, and expelling dampness from the body, as if conducting a profound purification ritual. This is not just a simple drink but a wise guardian for summer health, effectively preventing heatstroke and keeping the urinary system clear of troubles by relieving the annoyance of urinary tract infections.
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4. Green Tea
Savoring green tea is not just a sensory enjoyment but also a baptism for the body and mind. Green tea, though not flaunting its “bitter” name, harbors the sweetness and elegance of nature within. The active spirits such as catechins hidden within it permeate the heart and spleen like a mountain spring, bringing a rare coolness and tranquility.
This touch of greenness is like a gentle breeze in summer, brushing away the restlessness and fatigue in the mind. The unmistakable effect of clearing heat and reducing fire is evident. With a gentle and firm power, it dispels the inner dryness, allowing the body and mind to return to a state of natural tranquility. Amidst busyness and clamor, a cup of green tea serves as a peaceful harbor, bringing joy to the heart and clarity to the mind.
Drinking green tea in moderation is a delicate ritual for health. It unravels the mystery of metabolism like the subtle cycle of nature, quietly aiding the body in eliminating toxins, rejuvenating it from within. Each sip of tea is a gentle care for the body, letting health and vitality radiate from within, showcasing life’s most natural and charming brilliance.
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5. Chicory
Chicory, with its deep charm concealed in the touch of green, is not only a bright scenery on the dining table but also a radiant gem in the treasure trove of nutrition. Its graceful leaves, like jade carvings, each mouthful being nature’s pure gift. The rich dietary fiber in chicory acts as a gentle cleaner for the intestines, subtly promoting digestion and maintaining the harmonious operation of the body’s functions. The abundant group of vitamins stored within it is the solid support for the body’s immune system, helping us resist external disturbances and protect our health oasis.
When it comes to chicory’s effectiveness, we cannot ignore its magical powers of clearing heat, detoxifying, and anti-inflammatory effects. In the scorching summer days, a bowl of chicory salad is like a mountain spring, instantly dispelling the internal heat and discomfort, bringing an indescribable coolness and comfort. Its distinctive bitterness may initially pose a challenge on the taste buds but can gradually unfold into a lingering sweetness, embodying the philosophy of “bitterness turning into sweetness” bestowed by nature.
Chicory can be cooked in various ways – as a standalone dish, lightly dressed with a hint of vinegar and garlic for its fresh and refreshing authentic flavor; or harmoniously stir-fried with other vegetables in a hot wok, combining vibrant colors for a delightful harmony of nutrition and taste. Whether as an appetizer or paired with main courses, chicory, with its unique charm, becomes an indispensable presence on the dining table, adding a touch of freshness and vitality to the summer dining experience.
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3. Precautions for eating “bitter” foods
Although “bitter” foods have many benefits during the dog days, there are several points to keep in mind when consuming them:
First, moderation is key. Bitter foods are mostly cold in nature, overeating can harm the spleen and stomach, especially for those with a cold constitution or weak spleen and stomach, moderation is essential.
Second, individual differences. Different people have different body constitutions and health conditions, varying in their tolerance for bitter foods. Therefore, one should flexibly adjust their choices and consumption based on their own situation.
Third, reasonable combinations. When consuming bitter foods, it’s helpful to pair them with foods that are warm or neutral in nature, such as ginger, red dates, etc., to balance the cold nature of the food and increase overall nutrition.
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“If you don’t endure bitterness during the three dog days, your body will suffer,” this common saying deeply reveals the importance of dietary cultivation in summer. During the dog days, by consuming bitter gourd, lotus seed heart, and dandelion, among other “bitter” foods in moderation, we not only enjoy the pleasure of delicious food but also effectively regulate body functions, prevent common summer ailments, and keep the body cool and healthy in the scorching summer days. Let’s start with our diet, practice scientific health care, and stay cool in summer.
Do you think the analysis makes sense? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section for further discussion.
