Eat more melons in summer, don't grab traditional Chinese medicine

Source: Global Times Health ClientInterviewed experts:Professor Li Xiaojun, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineDietitian Tang Molian, Clinical Nutrition Department, Renji Hospital, Renji HospitalIntern reporter Wu Tong from our newspaperSince the beginning of summer, there have been consecutive high temperatures throughout the country, which many people find even more difficult than in previous years. Eating melons that can clear heat, dissipate dampness, generate fluids, and quench thirst at this time will have a very good effect on relieving heat stroke

Source: Global Times Health Client

Interviewed experts:

Professor Li Xiaojun, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Dietitian Tang Molian, Clinical Nutrition Department, Renji Hospital, Renji Hospital

Intern reporter Wu Tong from our newspaper

Since the beginning of summer, there have been consecutive high temperatures throughout the country, which many people find even more difficult than in previous years. Eating melons that can clear heat, dissipate dampness, generate fluids, and quench thirst at this time will have a very good effect on relieving heat stroke. As a result, there is a common saying among the people that "eat more melons in summer, and don't use traditional Chinese medicine". In this issue, Life Times invites experts in traditional Chinese medicine and nutrition to introduce 5 types of melons suitable for summer consumption.

Cucumber. Li Xiaojun, professor of the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said that cucumbers have the effects of cooling and diuresis. If you feel sore throat or difficulty urinating, you can eat some cucumbers appropriately to relieve it. Tang Molian, a Dietitian from the Clinical Nutrition Department of Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, said that the cucumber has a water content of 98%. Eating water in summer has a good effect, and the propylene glycol acid in it helps to inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat, which is suitable for people who lose weight. The various vitamins contained in cucumbers also have a certain auxiliary effect on improving summer "emotional heat stroke". Cucumber meat is crispy and tender, with a sweet and refreshing taste. It is recommended to eat it raw or cold mixed to retain more nutrients and moisture, and the taste is also better.

Luffa. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that loofah has a cool and sweet taste. In summer, if there are symptoms such as dry mouth and tongue, yellow urine, dry stools, and even bloody stools and urine, they can be treated by consuming loofah. From a nutritional perspective, loofah has sufficient moisture and low calories, with a high carotene content of 155 micrograms per 100 grams, and high levels of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Summer sweats a lot, so eating more loofah can help the body replenish minerals. There are various ways to eat loofah, including cold mixing, juicing, stir frying, and making soup. Due to its sweet and refreshing taste, it is more recommended to stir fry or cook with vegetables.

Watermelon. Watermelon has a sweet and juicy taste, and its heat clearing and fire clearing effects are similar to the famous Chinese medicine formula "White Tiger Soup", so it is also known as "Born White Tiger Soup". If you feel that drinking water doesn't quench your thirst, your mood is irritable, your body is tired, and you don't have an appetite, you can eat a few sweet watermelons. Not only can you relieve your discomfort, but you can also make your mood more pleasant. Watermelon skin (watermelon green coat) also has the effect of relieving heat and clearing heat, suitable for cold mixing or making watermelon green coat drink. From the perspective of nutrition, watermelon contains Lycopene, vitamin C and other healthy ingredients, which can be described as both delicious and nutritious. It should be noted that watermelon has high sugar content and high blood sugar load. It is recommended that patients with diabetes should be controlled within 200g each time. It is better not to eat watermelon when blood sugar is unstable.

Winter melon. Many people experience problems such as heavy head, mental fatigue, limb weakness, and indigestion during the summer, which is a sign of heavy moisture. Winter melon has the effects of dispelling dampness, heat, diuresis, and swelling, making it the "first melon to dispel dampness" in summer. From a nutritional perspective, winter melon has only 10 kcal of calories per 100 grams, with a high water content of 96.6%. It is a typical high potassium and low sodium food, suitable for consumption by patients with hypertension and kidney disease. Wax gourd is rich in glutamic acid and Asparagus cochinchinensis acid. It is delicious to stir fry or boil soup. It can be made into steamed rice with white gourd, soup of white gourd ribs, etc. It can also be used to cook porridge with white gourd and lotus leaf. It is not only fresh in taste, but also has good summer relieving effect.

Bitter gourd. According to the theory of the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer corresponds to the heart, which belongs to fire. Therefore, it is easy to experience situations of intense heart fire, such as chest tightness, redness of the tongue or tip, and sores around the mouth. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that bitter taste enters the heart, so bitter gourd has effects such as clearing the heart and purging fire. From a nutritional perspective, bitter gourd has higher levels of vitamin C and potassium in common vegetables, at 56 mg/100g and 256 mg/100g, respectively. Eating them in summer helps maintain electrolyte levels in the body. Due to the influence of high temperature environment, many people have poor appetite in summer. The bitter gourd contains bitter gourd glycoside and bitter bitter taste element, which can promote appetite, strengthen the spleen, and stimulate appetite. There are many ways to eat bitter gourds, and both experts recommend cold mixing or stir frying. People who do not like the bitterness can refrigerate and cook it again to make the taste more acceptable.

These 5 types of melons are all seasonal fruits and vegetables, and there are many benefits to eating them in summer. However, melons are generally cooler and more suitable for people with dampness and heat constitution. It is best for people with yang deficiency, cold dampness constitution, and weak spleen and stomach function to eat less.

This article is from the Global Times Health Client and only represents the author's viewpoint. The National Party Media Information Public Platform provides information dissemination and dissemination services.

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