Chill out with ‘cold’ foods

A heat wave recently had the weather bureau send out high-temperature alerts to us. Such weather can cause, at best, sunburn and, at worst, heatstroke, with a spectrum of symptoms in between, such as headaches, bubbling colds, mouth ulcers, indigestion and low spirits.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, foods that are bitter and nourishing to the heart are most beneficial in the summer season. This bitterness will cool down internal heat and naturally flush the body. When you eat such foods, they will cool and detoxify your body, improve digestion, and even offer weight loss benefits!

4 COOLING FOODS FOR YOUR HEALTHIEST SUMMER YET

1. Mung Bean Broth: The therapeutic value of mung beans is not in the bean itself, but in the water that you boil the bean in. In TCM, this liquid is so cooling and detoxifying that it has been reported useful in treating drug and alcohol poisoning. Most commonly, mung bean water is used to cool inflammation, especially acne and other red eruptions on the skin.
2. Cucumber: Many of us are familiar with the cooling properties of cucumber. Bite into one, and you will instantly know why! Cucumber is commonly found in face tonics and used during facial treatments. According to TCM, this is another food that helps relieve acne due to its cooling nature. Chinese medicine also uses cucumber to cleanse the blood and clear internal heat from the body. Remember, internal heat often equals inflammation. Cucumber is thirst quenching and, therefore, is sometimes used to treat a sore throat. It is also detoxifying and promotes urination. Its draining nature means that it supports the spleen by pulling dampness out of the body.
3. Purslane: Purslane is a rare and special plant. Well, rare in its qualities. It is actually so common that the FDA considers purslane a beneficial weed. What is unique about purslane is its omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) content. This is extraordinary for a land vegetable, as most omega-3 EPAs come from oily fish and microalgae. Like the other top summer foods, in TCM purslane is excellent at cooling inflammation in the body. It is a potent detoxifier and reduces internal heat. It has been reported as effective in treating conditions like dysentery and enteritis, which is inflammation of the small intestine. In TCM, the small intestine is related to the heart and falls under the element of Fire. Chinese medicine considers purslane to be effective in treating infections relating to the gums, lungs, bowels, and urinary tract.
4. Aloe Vera: If you have ever sliced an aloe leaf open and smoothed it over a sunburn, you know about its cooling nature. In TCM, aloe vera reduces internal heat and can strongly promote a bowel movement. For this reason, when used discriminately, it can effectively treat constipation.

If you are not sure what foods suit you, you can also ask our Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners for some advice on foods that best fit your personal profile. To cool down this season, the TCM summer food diet might be just what you need!