Shufu is a unique method in China for calculating the hot weather. As the midsummer has passed, we are entering the last period of Shufu – Mofu. The countdown to the dog days has begun, marking the transition from summer to autumn. The change of seasons is an important time for health preservation, so we must pay attention to the final ten days of Mofu. The climate during this time exhibits characteristics of both summer and autumn, with complex changes. We need to adjust accordingly at all times to adapt to the changing external environment. Establishing a regular daily routine, ensuring sufficient sleep, and following dietary restrictions are essential. Consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables can help us navigate through the hot and dry weather smoothly.
During the final ten days of Mofu, it is recommended to eat more leaves, roots, and fruits, and less meat, to maintain a strong body and transition smoothly into autumn. Mofu is a critical period before autumn sets in, where every meal should be carefully considered. Let’s dive into some specific recommendations.
**Eat More Leaves**
**Perilla Leaves**
Perilla leaves emit a unique fragrance and have a fresh and tender texture. Many people like to add them to cold dishes for flavor. Perilla leaves are ordinary-looking but have medicinal properties. They are rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, polyphenolic compounds, as well as ions like magnesium, iron, and zinc. These elements help with antioxidation, digestion, and immunity.
**Recommended Recipe: Stir-fried Perilla Leaves with Eggs**
1. Wash some fresh perilla leaves, chop them finely, including the stems.
2. Put the perilla leaves in a large bowl, break two eggs, add some salt, mix well.
3. Heat oil in a pan, pour the mixture, flip when the bottom solidifies, and cook until golden brown before serving.
**Eat More Roots**
**Carrot**
Carrots are often referred to as “small ginseng” due to their high nutritional value. They are rich in vitamins A, B, lignin, calcium, iron, promoting digestion, protecting the cardiovascular system, improving eyesight, strengthening immunity, and nourishing the skin. Carrots are crisp and sweet, and cooking them in hot oil enhances nutrient absorption.
**Recommended Recipe: Stir-fried Carrots with Pleurotus eryngii**
1. Soak Pleurotus eryngii in water, cut them into thick slices, clean and cut the carrots into thick strips, and prepare some green peppers.
2. Boil water in a pan, blanch the Pleurotus eryngii for two to three minutes, then cool them under running water.
3. Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the carrots until tender, add the Pleurotus eryngii, green peppers, soy sauce, salt, and stir-fry until fragrant before serving.
**Sweet Potato**
Sweet potatoes are one of the few purple foods and are known for their nutrition and health benefits. They contain antioxidants such as anthocyanins, vitamin C, β-carotene, sugars, dietary fiber, and ions like iron, magnesium, and zinc. Sweet potatoes help in anti-aging, fatigue relief, spleen strengthening, gut health, and eye protection.
**Recommended Recipe: Sweet Potato Pancakes**
1. Peel and steam two medium-sized sweet potatoes, mash them in a bowl, add milk powder and condensed milk, mix well.
2. Prepare dough or dumpling skins, thinly roll them, fill with sweet potato mixture, seal and flatten.
3. Heat an electric griddle, cook the pancakes for about two minutes on each side until golden brown.
**Eat More Fruits**
**Grapes**
End of summer and early autumn is the grape season. Grapes are juicy, sweet, refreshing, containing sugars, organic acids, vitamins C, B, K, polyphenols, iron, potassium, and copper, promoting blood, preventing constipation, protecting the heart, providing energy, and enhancing skin beauty. During the Mofu period, consider eating a few grapes daily.
**Kiwi**
Kiwis have a unique taste, especially when ripe, offering a satisfying melt-in-your-mouth experience. They are rich in vitamin C, pectin, folic acid, amino acids, calcium, iron, and potassium, aiding digestion, revitalizing, appetite improvement, and liver protection.
**Passion Fruit**
Passion fruit is a unique fruit known as the “king of fruit juice,” combining aromas of many fruits and over a hundred nutrients, promoting mental alertness, antibacterial functions, soothing emotions, blood circulation, and immune enhancement. During the hot and dry Mofu season, staying hydrated is essential, and passion fruit juice is nutritious and reviving.
**Eat Less Meat**
**Mutton**
Mofu is a good time for nourishment, but it’s advisable to avoid mutton as it is warm in nature, which may add to the heat in the dry early autumn, leading to discomfort.
**Preserved Meats**
Preserved meats often contain high levels of salt and other seasonings, which might enhance flavor but can lead to nutrient loss during storage. The high-fat content in preserved meats is difficult to digest and can burden the metabolism, affecting kidney and liver health.
