Produced by | Sohu Health
Author | Shunyi Maternal and Child Hospital Clinical Nutrition Department, Li Yongjin
Editor | Liu Jiabi
After the beginning of the summer heat, the hot and humid weather often makes people feel uncomfortable. Li Yongjin, from the Clinical Nutrition Department of Shunyi Maternal and Child Hospital, introduces that in traditional Chinese medicine theory, having a cold and damp constitution is a common health issue; especially in summer, due to factors such as people’s desire for coolness, consumption of raw and cold foods, the cold and dampness within the body can easily worsen, affecting health. It is recommended to have a diet in summer mainly consisting of warm and hot foods, light and easily digestible, while also adequately replenishing fluids and avoiding excessive consumption of cold drinks.
What are the signs of a cold and damp constitution?
According to traditional Chinese medicine, individuals with a cold and damp constitution usually exhibit symptoms such as pale complexion, cold hands and feet, easy fatigue, loss of appetite, and irregular bowel movements. The formation of a cold and damp constitution is related to various factors such as diet, living environment, among others. Therefore, in summer it is important to pay special attention to adjusting dietary habits to prevent the worsening of a cold and damp constitution.
What principles should people with a cold and damp constitution follow in their summer diet?
1. Focus on warm and hot foods
Even though summer weather is hot, individuals with a cold and damp constitution should not consume excessive raw and cold foods like ice cream and cold drinks. It is advisable to choose warm and hot foods in moderation, such as ginger, spring onions, garlic, and lamb meat, to dispel cold and dampness from the body.
2. Opt for light and easily digestible foods
In summer, it is best to have a light and easily digestible diet, avoiding greasy, spicy, and other stimulating foods. Consume more fresh vegetables and fruits to supply the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Also, maintain dietary regularity and avoid overeating.
3. Adequately replenish fluids
High summer temperatures can lead to increased sweating and water loss in the body. Individuals with a cold and damp constitution should replenish fluids moderately to maintain a proper water balance. However, avoid excessive consumption of cold drinks to prevent worsening cold and dampness.
What can be eaten in summer to dispel cold and dampness from the body?
1. Ginger
Ginger has the effect of warming, dispersing cold, and expelling cold and dampness. It can be sliced and used to brew tea or added to dishes for cooking.
2. Adzuki beans
Adzuki beans help in diuresis, reducing swelling, invigorating the spleen, and dispelling dampness. In summer, adzuki beans can be cooked into congee or soup to help the body expel excess water and dampness.
3. Coix seeds
Coix seeds can invigorate the spleen, eliminate dampness, and clear heat. Cooking coix seeds with adzuki beans, Chinese yam, and other ingredients into porridge can dispel dampness and nourish the body.
4. Lamb
Lamb is a warm-natured food with the effects of warming, dispersing cold, and tonifying the middle energizer. During summer, consuming an appropriate amount of lamb stew and other warm-natured foods can enhance the body’s yang energy, expelling cold and dampness from within.
What foods should individuals with a cold and damp constitution consume less of in summer?
1. Avoid consuming raw and cold foods
Individuals with a cold and damp constitution should avoid eating raw and cold foods as much as possible, such as ice cream and cold drinks. These foods can exacerbate cold and dampness in the body, affecting health.
2. Consume less greasy and spicy foods
Greasy and spicy foods can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and increase the body’s burden. Individuals with a cold and damp constitution should consume these foods less to prevent worsening symptoms of cold and dampness.
Summer is a good time to dispel cold and dampness from the body. By adjusting dietary habits, choosing warm and hot foods, light and easily digestible foods, and adequately replenishing fluids, along with recommended foods, one can effectively remove internal cold and dampness. At the same time, avoiding raw and cold foods, as well as greasy and spicy foods, are also crucial. While enjoying good food, it is important to pay attention to health and stay away from cold and dampness troubles.
