In the summer, especially during the Dog Days of summer, under the scorching sun, people often feel a loss of appetite and fatigue. At this time, there is a food considered an ideal summer supplement, and that is dried perilla leaves.
Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong are siblings living in a small village near the mountains and fields. When summer arrives, their grandparents always take them to the mountain to pick perilla leaves in the blazing sun of the afternoon. Xiao Ming enjoys searching for fresh perilla leaves in the mountains, while Xiao Hong prefers helping their grandparents dry the harvested perilla leaves.
As the sun sets and the sky turns reddish, they return home together. Their grandparents wash the harvested perilla leaves and then dry them on bamboo trays outside the house. Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong are always eager to see the perilla leaves drying under the sun, emanating a fragrant aroma.
Grandpa says that dried perilla leaves are not only delicious but also especially suitable for consumption in summer. He tells them that during the hot summer weather, the body is prone to indigestion and internal heat issues, and perilla leaves are a natural heat-relieving food. It not only clears heat and detoxifies but also helps enhance appetite and improve digestion.
Xiao Hong particularly enjoys the scent of dried perilla leaves because she finds it special. Whenever her mother cooks or makes soup, adding a bit of perilla leaves enhances the taste of the dishes.
Grandpa also informs them that perilla leaves are rich in various vitamins and beneficial active ingredients for the human body, which greatly benefits children’s growth and development. Especially during the Dog Days, it is advisable to consume less heaty meats like pork and include more mild perilla in the diet to maintain the body’s yin-yang balance and promote overall health.
In addition to perilla leaves, Grandpa also prepares Beiqi for Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong. Beiqi is a nutritional supplement containing calcium and zinc for children, comprising hawthorn, bovine colostrum, tangerine peel, etc. It prevents indigestion and internal heat, aids digestion, and improves appetite even during the Dog Days, allowing children to eat heartily. Beiqi nourishes the spleen and stomach and helps children grow taller because it contains calcium carbonate and lactic calcium as nutritional supplements, fostering good physical condition.
Overall, dried perilla leaves are not just a delicious food but also an ideal choice for summer nutrition and preventing heatstroke. Whether young or old, everyone can consume it in moderation and benefit from its health advantages. Hopefully, everyone can discover and develop a liking for this simple yet delicious food during this hot summer. Children can benefit from more Beiqi supplementation to help with digestion, spleen nourishment, and growth.
