During the “San Fu Tian” period, the weather is hot, making the body prone to accumulating dampness and heat. At this time, dietary adjustment becomes particularly important. Remembering the “3 eat, 3 don’t eat” principle can help you maintain good health and complexion during the “San Fu Tian” period. The 3 foods to eat mainly involve consuming ginger, lotus seeds, and fish. Firstly, eating ginger helps dispel cold; secondly, lotus seeds not only calm the mind but also assist in improving sleep quality – having a bowl of lotus seed soup at night is a good choice; lastly, it’s important to consume more fish as fish meat is rich in high-quality protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, which help boost immunity.
Additionally, during the “San Fu Tian” period, there are some foods to avoid as much as possible. The 3 foods not to eat mainly refer to avoiding sweets, cold drinks, and chili peppers. Although sweets are delicious, they tend to generate dampness and heat, impacting health; while cold drinks may relieve heat, they can harm the spleen and stomach, leading to poor digestion; and even though chili peppers stimulate appetite, they can easily cause internal heat and aggravate bodily heat. Throughout the 40 days of “San Fu,” it is essential to have a balanced diet to maintain the body’s balance and health in the hot summer. Remember these tips to maintain a good complexion during the “San Fu Tian” period!
###Eating###
**1. Consumption of Ginger**
Recommended Recipe [Ginger Fried Duck]
* Wash a duck thoroughly.
* After cleaning, chop the duck into small pieces, put it in a bowl, add a base flavor, a tablespoon of salt, a tablespoon of black pepper, a tablespoon of cooking wine, 5 slices of ginger, a small handful of scallion pieces, mix well to remove any fishy odor, then marinate for 20 minutes.
* Prepare about half to one pound of sliced young ginger after cleaning.
* Prepare a handful of green and red chili peppers, wash them, cut them into rings, and if desired, add some small chili peppers for spiciness.
* Heat oil in a pan, add the duck meat, stir-fry on high heat to remove excess moisture, ensure to stir-fry for some extra time. Once the oil in the pan becomes clear, season with Sichuan peppercorn, star anise, dried chili, garlic, scallion to release aromas, then add a spoon of doubanjiang to stir-fry until the oil turns red.
* After the aroma emerges, add the sliced young ginger, a can of beer, cover and cook over high heat for 30 minutes. The exact cooking time needs to be adjusted depending on the heat level and the type of duck meat used.
* Once the duck meat is cooked, add green and red chili peppers, season with light soy sauce, chicken essence, salt, sugar, stir-fry evenly, and reduce the sauce over high heat.
* Enjoy the delicious and satisfying ginger fried duck, fragrant and flavorful.
**2. Consumption of Lotus Seeds**
Recommended Recipe [Lotus Seed Tremella Mung Bean Congee]
* Clean lotus seeds and remove the core, soak them in water in advance.
* After the silver ear mushrooms are soaked, tear them into small pieces and remove any hard stems.
* Wash green beans, put them in a pot with lotus seeds, and add an appropriate amount of water.
* Boil over high heat, then stew over low heat until the green beans bloom and the lotus seeds turn soft.
* Add the silver ear mushrooms, continue to cook until the congee thickens and the mushrooms become soft.
**3. Consumption of Fish**
Recommended Recipe [Steamed Cod Fish]
* Marinate cod fish with ginger and cooking wine for 5 minutes to remove the fishy smell.
* Place ginger slices and scallion pieces at the bottom of a plate, add the cod fish, garnish with more ginger slices on top, then steam over high heat for 8 minutes.
* Remove the ginger strands on top of the fish, pour 2 tablespoons of steamed fish soy sauce, add some chopped scallions, drizzle with a spoon of hot oil, and the steamed cod fish is ready; tender and delicious, especially suitable for children.
###Not Eating###
**1. Avoid Sugary Foods**
During the “San Fu Tian” period, it is advisable to avoid or minimize the consumption of sugary foods. The hot and humid climate makes people prone to sweating, while sweets tend to produce dampness, burdening the spleen and stomach, affecting their normal functions, and causing symptoms like loss of appetite, bloating, and diarrhea.
**2. Avoid Cold Drinks**
In the 40 days of “San Fu,” the body’s yang energy is at its peak, mainly floating on the body’s surface, while the internal organs are relatively in a state of deficiency and cold. The digestive function of the spleen and stomach is weaker compared to other seasons. In this situation, women with a stronger tendency towards internal cold, if they consume cold drinks like ice creams during this period, will worsen the situation. Excessive consumption of cold drinks can easily cause discomfort in the digestive system and create internal cold dampness, hence it is suggested to avoid or limit their intake.
**3. Avoid Chili Peppers**
Chili peppers are a significant seasoning that many people enjoy. However, during the “San Fu Tian” period, chili peppers are not suitable as they bring about dry heat and can contribute to internal heat accumulation. Therefore, it is best to consume them in moderation or avoid them altogether.
