24 Solar Terms -" Summer Heat "

Xiaoshu-Summer heat, the 11th solar term in the Chinese calendar, falls on July 7th this year. It marks the hottest period of summer when the arrogant sunlight shines and the earth's heat evaporates, resulting in a peak of human yang energy. After Xiaoshu, the focus of health preservation should be on nourishing yang and adapting to seasonal changes. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, Xiaoshu is the time when the body's yang energy is at its strongest. Yang energy is also referred to as "Wei Yang" or "Wei Qi" in Chinese medicine. As long as one's yang energy is strong, they are less prone to illnesses. During the season of Xiaoshu, when the climate is hot, people are prone to restlessness, fatigue, and lack of energy. When taking care of ourselves through self-care and exercise, we should follow the principle of focusing on the corresponding organ for each season. In summer, the heart is the organ to be taken care of, nurturing the heart yang, maintaining a calm mind, and ensuring the vigorous functioning of the heart in accordance with the principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer." Summer is also a season when digestive disorders are common, so it is important to change unhealthy habits such as irregular and unclean diets, as well as excessive indulgence in certain foods. Moderate eating is advisable. Having a preference for certain foods is one of the causes of malnutrition. Only with proper dietary regulation can we ensure the intake of essential nutrients for the body. How should we adjust our health during this time? Today, Chinaturel recommends two summer heat-clearing soups:

1. Green Bean and Tangerine Peel Sweet Soup Functions: Clears heat, detoxifies, relieves summer heat, boosts qi, relieves thirst, and promotes diuresis.                   Ingredients: Green beans, kelp, tangerine peel, rock sugar. Preparation:

   • Soak the kelp and tangerine peel in water until softened, then slice them.
   • Rinse the green beans thoroughly.
   • Put all the ingredients into a pot. Initially, use high heat to bring it to a boil, then simmer on low heat.
   • Simmer for 1 hour and then add rock sugar to taste before serving.

2. Hawthorn and Lotus Leaf Tea Functions: Clears heat, relieves summer heat, invigorates the spleen, stimulates appetite, strengthens the heart, and lowers lipid levels. Ingredients: 15-30g hawthorn, 10g dried lotus leaf. Preparation:

   • Cut the hawthorn into slices and sun-dry them. Use 15-30g per serving when brewing.
   • Sun-dry the lotus leaf and use 10g per serving.
   • Boil the hawthorn and lotus leaf together to make tea.
   • After boiling, remove the residue and drink the tea.

These two soups have the effect of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, making them suitable for cooling and refreshing. Green Bean and Tangerine Peel Sweet Soup helps to relieve thirst, promote diuresis, and replenish qi. Hawthorn and Lotus Leaf Tea clears heat, invigorates the spleen, stimulates appetite, strengthens the heart, and lowers lipid levels. They are both beneficial for digestion and cardiovascular health.

In addition to consuming these soups, here are a few general tips for summer health:

• Dietary regulation: Arrange your diet wisely, reduce the consumption of spicy and greasy foods, and opt for light and easily digestible foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Moderate exercise: Choose appropriate forms of exercise for summer, such as walking

Recommended products for Summer heat solar term

 Folium Nelumbinis

https://www.chinaturel.nl/en/he-ye-folium-nelumbinis-250-gr/a7346?search=%E8%8D%B7%E5%8F%B6&m=7350

Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae

https://www.chinaturel.nl/en/chen-pi-si-chao-pericarpium-citri-reticulatae-preparata-250-gr/a9446?search=%E9%99%88%E7%9A%AE&m=6748

Hawthorn

https://www.chinaturel.nl/en/shan-zha-sheng-fructus-crataegi-500-gr/a8423?search=%E5%B1%B1%E6%A5%82&m=8428