Entering the Lesser Heat on July 15th, you should be mindful of your diet, eat less of the “3 types,” and consume more of the “3 foods” to pass through the hottest period of the summer. Starting from July 15th, we will be entering the dog days of summer, which will last for 40 days this year. The dog days will mark the hottest period of the year with high temperatures and humidity. During this season, it’s important to pay attention to our diet and lifestyle. It’s recommended to avoid certain foods and consume others to maintain a stable condition during the Lesser Heat.
Some cold foods are comfortable to eat during the dog days but might not be healthy. Therefore, it’s advisable not to consume excessive cold food.
On the other hand, certain healthy foods are very suitable for consumption during the Lesser Heat. It is suggested to eat less of the “3 types” and more of the “3 foods” to benefit your health. Let’s take a look at which three types of food to avoid and which “3 foods” to consume more during the Lesser Heat period.
### Eat Less of the “3 Types:”
1. Avoid consuming cold and cool foods as they might lead to digestive issues during the humid and hot weather of the Lesser Heat season.
2. Limit the intake of cold drinks to prevent discomfort and potential strain on the digestive system, especially during hot weather.
3. Refrain from eating overly stimulating or irritating foods as they can burden the digestive system, especially for individuals prone to excess internal heat.
### Consume More of the “3 Foods:”
1. **Ginger**
– Recommended Recipe: Ginger Jujube Tea
– Ingredients: Ginger, red dates, brown sugar
– Recipe Steps:
– Wash and slice the ginger.
– Remove the seeds from the red dates and wash them.
– Dry-fry the ginger in a pan to enhance its flavor.
– Put the ginger, red dates, and brown sugar into a pot with some water.
– Boil for about 10 minutes to extract the flavors.
2. **Lotus Seeds**
– Recommended Recipe: Lily and Lotus Seed Soup
– Ingredients: Lily bulbs, lotus seeds, dried Chinese yam, red dates, goji berries, crystal sugar, a small amount of osmanthus flowers
– Recipe Steps:
– Wash all ingredients thoroughly and cut the red dates into small pieces.
– Put all prepared ingredients (except goji berries) into a pot with water and boil.
– Boil for approximately 45 minutes until the ingredients are soft and add crystal sugar to taste. Boil with goji berries and osmanthus flowers.
3. **Duck Meat**
– Recommended Recipe: Old Duck Soup
– Ingredients: Old duck meat, dried Chinese yam, Codonopsis pilosula, dried tangerine peel, and astragalus roots for soup
– Recipe Steps:
– Wash and cut the duck meat and other soup ingredients.
– Blanch the duck meat in cold water and remove excess fat.
– Put all ingredients into a pot with water and simmer.
– Boil over low heat for about 90 minutes, add a pinch of salt before serving.
**Lily’s Food Ramblings:**
The above foods are recommended for consumption during the Lesser Heat. It’s advisable to eat less of certain types of food and more of the recommended foods for better health. Enjoy these 3 common recipes suitable for the Lesser Heat period, suitable for all ages.
