Staying Cool
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), staying cool in summer relies on eating water-rich, cooling foods to clear internal heat and replenish fluids. In Summer you should use plenty of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables. Bitter Melon helps clear "Heart fire" and reduce internal heat. Cucumbers and Zucchini are hydrating vegetables that cool the body and ease inflammation. Light cooking is in order, steaming and boiling. You may decide to add spice or pungent flavours. Fruits to cool Summer Heat include apples, lemons and limes (Pitchford, 2002). Salads, sprouts and cucumber are suitable for picnics alongside herbal teas. To stay cool while cooking at home during the summer, focus on meals that do not require cooking like watermelon, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber. Chilled soups, yoghurt, watermelon and salads can also be used.
What to Eat
Watermelon is considered to have many benefits in Chinese Medicine. It is a source of vitamin C and lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant. Due to its thick skin, the exposure to pesticides is low.
Strawberries are cooling in nature, making them the perfect summer food. Other cooling foods include kholrabi, cilantro, parsley, asparagus, sprouts, lettuce, corn, cucumber, spinach, and mint.
What to Drink
Green tea, mint tea, Chrysanthemum tea, Coconut water. Mung bean soup is a classic sweet soup used to dispel summer heat and detoxify.
What to Avoid
Sweeteners, spicy foods, fried foods, alcohol or caffeine. These are heating rather than cooling foods and drinks. Avoid Ice. TCM warns against ice-cold drinks because they shock and weaken your digestive fire (Spleen and Stomach). Try for room-temperature or cool items instead.
References
Pitchford, 2002, Healing with Whole Foods Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley
https://www.pingminghealth.com/article/581/warming-and-cooling-characteristics-of-common-foods/
