Introduction: During the dog days of summer, remind middle-aged and elderly people to eat less ribbonfish and grass carp, and eat more of 3 kinds of food to build a foundation for the second half of the year.
The dog days of summer, the hottest period of the year, with intense sunlight and steaming heat, pose a significant challenge to the human body, especially to middle-aged and elderly individuals. During this time, proper dietary adjustments are particularly important.
Traditionally, ribbonfish and grass carp are highly praised for their delicious taste and rich nutrients, but during the dog days of summer, their nature tends to be warm, and consuming them excessively may exacerbate internal dry heat, which is not conducive to balancing the body. Therefore, it is recommended for middle-aged and elderly people to adjust their diet structure accordingly during this period, and consume more of the following three types of food. Not only are they nutritious and affordable, but they are also more suitable for summer health maintenance. Eating more of these sets the foundation for the second half of the year!
1. Mung Beans – the “green pearl” for clearing heat and summer heat
Nutritional analysis: Mung beans have a cooling nature and sweet taste, which can clear heat and detoxify. During the dog days of summer, the body tends to sweat, leading to the loss of body fluids and electrolytes. Mung bean soup not only replenishes fluids promptly but also effectively alleviates irritability caused by heat. It is highly suitable to eat during the dog days of summer.
Recommended preparation: Mung bean, lily, and lotus seed soup
Ingredients: 100g mung beans, 20g dried lily, 30g lotus seeds, rock sugar to taste.
Steps:
Rinse the mung beans, dried lily, and lotus seeds, and soak the lotus seeds in clear water for at least 2 hours.
Put the soaked mung beans, dried lily, and lotus seeds into a pot with an adequate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat.
Once the mung beans bloom and the lotus seeds are soft and sticky, adjust the sweetness with rock sugar according to personal taste, and cook for a few more minutes until the rock sugar completely dissolves.
Tips: Do not add alkali when boiling mung beans to avoid damaging their nutritional content. Rock sugar can be added according to personal taste, and can also be replaced with xylitol.
2. Cucumber – the “summer favorite” for refreshing thirst
Nutritional analysis: Cucumbers have a cooling nature, sweet taste, and rich in moisture content, making them an ideal choice for cooling off in summer. Their high water content makes them especially suitable for consumption during the dog days of summer. Eating more cucumbers during this season can promote metabolism, beauty, and skincare.
Recommended preparation: Cucumber and wood ear mushroom salad
Ingredients: 1 cucumber, 10g dried wood ear mushrooms, minced garlic to taste, light soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, salt, and a little sugar.
Steps:
Pre-soak the dried wood ear mushrooms in warm water, remove the stems, wash thoroughly, tear into small pieces, blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then remove and rinse in cold water, drain excess water.
Wash the cucumber, loosen it with a tap, then cut it into pieces or chunks, sprinkle with a little salt, let it sit for some time to remove excess moisture.
Put the cucumber and wood ear mushrooms in a large bowl, add minced garlic, light soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, a pinch of salt, and sugar, mix well before serving.
Tips: Maintain hygiene while making cold dishes. Ensure that all ingredients and utensils are clean to avoid food contamination.
3. Winter Melon – the “summer treasure” for diuresis and reducing swelling
Nutritional analysis: Winter melon has a cooling nature, sweet taste, which can clear heat and summer heat, reduce fat, and promote weight loss. Its high water content and low calorie characteristics make it an ideal food for summer weight loss and health maintenance. Remember to eat more!
Recommended preparation: Winter melon, barley, and pork rib soup
Ingredients: 500g winter melon, 50g barley, 300g pork ribs, a few slices of ginger, salt to taste.
Steps:
Pre-soak the barley in clear water for 2-3 hours, wash the pork ribs and chop them, blanch in water to remove blood scum, then remove.
Peel and deseed the winter melon, cut it into large pieces, and set aside.
Put the prepared pork ribs, barley, and ginger slices in a clay pot, add enough water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour.
Add the winter melon pieces and continue to simmer for 30 minutes until the winter melon is soft, lastly season with salt.
Tips: Winter melon skin also has good medicinal value. If you don’t mind the texture, you can keep the winter melon skin while stewing to enhance the soup’s flavor.
Conclusion
The dog days of summer require special attention from middle-aged and elderly individuals. By adjusting the diet structure and consuming more mung beans, cucumbers, winter melons, and other foods that clear heat, quench thirst, not only can you effectively alleviate the discomfort caused by the heat, but you can also provide sufficient nutritional support to strengthen the body, enhance immunity. At the same time, pay attention to a light and balanced diet, which allows the body to stay refreshed even in the scorching summer days.
