In the hot summer months, eating foods with a bitter taste in moderation is very beneficial to health. These foods, such as bitter gourd, bitter herbs and bitter chrysanthemum, are rich in alkaloids, amino acids, bitters, vitamins and a variety of minerals, which are all nutrients that the human body urgently needs.
Eat more of these "bitter" foods in the summer
They can not only be antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and heatstroke, refresh the mind, strengthen the stomach and eliminate food, but also help maintain good health. However, enduring hardship is not invulnerable, and here are a few things to keep in mind.
01
Momordica charantia
Bitter gourd is an ideal bitter food, which can not only lower blood sugar, beautify the skin, clear away heat and heat, but also is especially suitable for diabetics.
The bitter gourdin in bitter melon has a significant hypoglycemic effect, and the bitter melon and quinoline substances it contains can be antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and the bitter flavor can promote digestion, which is ideal for summer.
02
Bitter vegetables
Bitter herbs are recorded in the "Shennong's Materia Medica" as bitter and cold, which can clear the five evil qi in the body, and have a significant effect on treating loss of appetite, lightening the body, enhancing physical strength, calming the nerves and nourishing the heart, and can also help delay aging and improve health. Bitter herbs are rich in life-sustaining
pressure and other effects.
03
Bitter chrysanthemum
Bitter chrysanthemum, a slightly bitter food, contains carotene, dietary fiber and vitamin C, which can promote intestinal peristalsis, help digestion, and prevent constipation. At the same time, it has the effect of clearing the liver and removing fire, which can relieve the feeling of heat and dryness in summer, which is very suitable for summer consumption.
04
Bitter Pain
According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica", the nature of tartary buckwheat is bitter, peaceful, and cold, and has the effects of invigorating qi, renewing essence, brightening eyes, laxative, and strengthening the spleen and stomach.
Modern research has revealed that tartary buckwheat is rich in flavonoids, which help reduce high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar.
Moderate consumption of bitter foods in summer is very beneficial to the body, and it is also effective in preventing stroke caused by heat evil. I recommend a special tea drink to everyone - Four Bitter Tea.
Four bitter teas
Recipe: Includes 3 parts of bitter gourd, 2 parts of bitter herbs, 1 part of bitter chrysanthemum and an appropriate amount of tartary buckwheat.
Method: Put the above ingredients together in a pot and boil to make a pot of tea. Once it has cooled, pour it into a pot and serve. This tea is ideal for people with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, diabetes, and constipation.
Precautions: People with spleen and stomach deficiency should drink it in moderation, or you can add some ginger to the tea.
It is beneficial to endure hardship, but pay attention to these things
While eating in moderation in summer is healthy, it's not for everyone, and not every time of the day. The following three points need to be paid special attention to.
01
It is advisable to endure hardships in moderation
Consuming too heavy or excessive amounts of bitter foods for a long time may cause stomach upset, and adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea may occur. Therefore, experts recommend not to eat more than 2 to 3 times a week and avoid eating on an empty stomach.
02
Hardship varies from person to person
On the basis of maintaining a balanced diet, the intake of bitter foods should be adjusted according to individual physical differences, so as to avoid blindly following the trend so as not to cause harm to physical health.
For example, in the hot summer, people who work outdoors in a hot environment for a long time can increase the intake of bitter foods in an appropriate amount to achieve the effect of clearing heat and eliminating heat and humidity.
However, for people who spend a lot of time in an air-conditioned room and sweat less, they should add spicy foods to their diet to help regulate yang energy.
03
The three groups of people should avoid suffering too much
People with weak spleen and stomach and insufficient qi and blood should avoid eating too much bitter food, because most of the bitter foods are cold in nature, and excessive consumption may cause abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms.
Pregnant women should be cautious about consuming bitter foods, such as bitter gourd, etc., because bitter gourd contains quinine, which usually does not cause problems when consumed in moderation, but excessive consumption may stimulate uterine contractions, which may lead to the risk of miscarriage.
Menstruating women may consume too much bitter food and may have poor menstrual bleeding, causing menstrual cramps and other problems. For women who already have menstrual cramps, it is recommended to minimize the intake of bitter foods during non-menstrual periods.
Safe Eating of BittersWhen choosing bitter foods, do not try bitter wild vegetables or nuts of unknown origin to ensure safety. Even foods that are not usually bitter, such as loofahs and cucumbers, should be avoided if they are found to have an unusually bitter taste.
Source: Health Talk