Introduction: During the “San Fu Tian” period, many people like to cool down by eating watermelon, seafood, and other foods. However, did you know? In the “San Fu Tian” period, although these foods can bring temporary cooling, excessive consumption may not be beneficial for health in the long term. Today, let’s explore together how to choose seasonal ingredients to stay cool and healthy during the “San Fu Tian” period.
Why should you eat less watermelon and seafood during the “San Fu Tian” period?
Watermelon is a great cooling fruit in summer, loved for its sweet taste and high water content. However, watermelon is a cold-natured fruit. Excessive consumption can harm the spleen and stomach, leading to discomfort such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Additionally, the high sugar content in watermelon may cause blood sugar fluctuations in the long term, which is not beneficial for diabetics.
Seafood is also a common delicacy on summer tables, praised for its delicious taste and rich nutrients. However, seafood is prone to bacterial growth in summer. Improper handling or overconsumption can lead to health issues like food poisoning. Moreover, seafood has a high purine content, and overconsumption may exacerbate conditions like gout.
What seasonal vegetables should be eaten more during the “San Fu Tian” period?
Bitter melon: Bitter melon is a seasonal vegetable in summer, known for its heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Research shows that bitter melon is rich in vitamin C and bitter melon extract, which can help lower blood sugar, regulate blood lipids, and have certain auxiliary therapeutic effects for diabetics and cardiovascular disease patients. Additionally, bitter melon can promote gastric juice secretion, enhance appetite, and aid digestion.
Winter melon: Winter melon is a great cooling food in summer, with diuretic and detoxifying properties. It is rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C, promoting intestinal motility, aiding digestion, and excretion. The high potassium content in winter melon helps maintain electrolyte balance and prevents heatstroke.
Mung bean sprouts: Mung bean sprouts are seasonal vegetables in summer, known for their heat-clearing, detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber, mung bean sprouts can promote metabolism, enhance immunity, and have beauty benefits by improving skin condition.
Cucumber: Cucumber is a common summer vegetable, known for its cooling, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Rich in water and vitamin C, cucumbers can replenish the body’s water and nutrients, alleviate thirst and fatigue. Additionally, the silica in cucumbers helps enhance the health of joint connective tissue and has certain auxiliary therapeutic effects for arthritis patients.
How to properly match seasonal ingredients?
During the “San Fu Tian” period, we can enhance nutrient intake and cooling effects by properly matching seasonal ingredients. For example, stewing bitter melon and winter melon together can help clear heat, detoxify, diuretic, and reduce swelling. Or, mixing mung bean sprouts and cucumbers for a salad can stimulate appetite, relieve heat, and have beauty benefits. Additionally, we can choose other seasonal ingredients like luffa and eggplant based on our taste and needs for a balanced combination.
Although the “San Fu Tian” period is hot and intolerable, by paying attention to proper matching of seasonal ingredients, we can easily get through this summer. Eat less watermelon, seafood, and other cold-natured or bacteria-prone foods; consume more bitter melon, winter melon, mung bean sprouts, and cucumbers, which have heat-clearing, detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Through scientific eating and proper combinations, we can not only enjoy the pleasures of good food but also maintain a healthy body for a pleasant summer!
