Tomorrow is Minor Heat. You should be careful with your diet, eat less watermelon and more of the following to dispel cold and nourish yang for a healthy transition into the beginning of the heat. July 6th is the day of Minor Heat, marking the start of a period of particularly hot weather in the year. Soon after on July 15th, we will enter the “San Fu Tian” period. The diet during Minor Heat is crucial, especially for those with a cold constitution who should be careful with their food intake. It is advisable to eat less ice-cold watermelon as it tends to have a cooling effect. Particularly for women during Minor Heat, it is recommended to eat less of that and consume more warm nourishing foods to dispel cold and nourish yang.
Below are three recommended ingredients suitable for the Minor Heat season, all of which are excellent choices for nourishing the body and dispelling cold during summer. Cooking these ingredients for your family during Minor Heat can be very beneficial for their health.
1. Edamame Beans
Eating edamame beans in the summer season can relieve fatigue in the hot weather. Edamame beans are rich in potassium, which can help replenish the potassium lost due to excessive sweating, relieving fatigue caused by potassium loss. Edamame beans are sweet and mild in nature, rich in protein, calcium, iron, vitamins, and other nutrients, making them a great choice for the Minor Heat season.
Recommended recipe: Edamame Bean Stew
Ingredients: Edamame beans, ginger, garlic, spices (bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon, chili).
1. Choose young, plump edamame beans for better taste.
2. Trim both ends of the edamame beans to enhance flavor absorption.
3. Wash and prepare the ginger, garlic, and spices.
4. In a pot, add water and spices to create a broth, then add soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, and sugar. Add the edamame beans to simmer in the broth.
5. Cook the edamame beans thoroughly, then let them soak for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors before serving.
2. Red Dates
Eating red dates during Minor Heat season is very nourishing. Red dates are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients, providing nourishment and benefiting the body’s immune system. They are beneficial for replenishing blood and energy, alleviating fatigue, and weakness.
Recommended recipe: Red Date Soy Milk with Red Beans
Ingredients: Red dates, soybeans, rice, red beans, peanuts, longan fruit.
1. Wash and pit the red dates, clean the remaining ingredients.
2. Place all prepared ingredients in a blender.
3. Add an appropriate amount of purified water.
4. Select the “Nourishing Soy Milk” mode, let the program complete and cook thoroughly.
5. Add sugar to taste, mix well before serving.
3. Lamb Meat
Lamb meat is a warming food, suitable for the “winter disease treated in summer” concept to dispel cold from the body and promote nourishment. It is ideal for people with a cold constitution and provides great body-warming benefits during the summer. However, if you have a constitution prone to heat and dryness, it may not be suitable.
Recommended recipe: Radish Lamb Soup
Ingredients: Lamb meat, white radish, ginger, scallions, cilantro.
1. Wash the lamb meat and cut it into pieces, soak in cold water to remove excess blood.
2. Peel and wash the white radish, cut into large pieces.
3. Blanch the lamb meat in cold water with ginger and scallions, then rinse and drain.
4. Put the lamb meat, white radish, ginger, and scallions in a soup pot, add an appropriate amount of purified water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 90 minutes.
5. When the lamb meat is tender, season with a bit of salt, garnish with cilantro, then serve.
Lily’s Food Care Tips:
Above are three ingredients suitable for the Minor Heat season, providing nourishment and warmth to dispel cold and nourish yang, which is very beneficial for the body, especially for those with a cold constitution. Remember to cook these dishes for your family during Minor Heat if you have the opportunity.
