Cooling Foods for the Summer

The Yin and Yang Philosophy

Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient science and philosophy that takes into account the four identified flavours – Sweet, Sour, Bitter, and Salty, and complements them with the nature of foods – cool, cold, warm, and hot. This philosophy is based on when specific foods should be eaten, with the weather playing a major role. This philosophy also identifies the body type and advice foods to be eaten by different body types. In the summer, the weather is hot and dry, and as in Hong Kong, it is also humid. The summer season affects the heart and lungs, and can create havoc on their functions. Symptoms such as dry skin, hair, and lips, constipation, red and irritable eyes, and heart palpitations can occur. 

Today, we are learning to listen to our body and to reach out to foods that we feel is right for us. The natural trend during the summer is salads, cool drinks, juices, smoothies, less starchy vegetables, and many more. Here is a list of cooling foods that traditional Chinese medicine recommends for this season which are also filled with numerous health benefits and are extremely rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. 

Mung Beans: A cooling lentil which has a wealth of nutrients. Great for making soups, stews, as well as sprouts.

Celery: Known for its value in soups and salads, celery is also full of antioxidants like Vitamin C and flavonoids.

Tomatoes: Eaten fresh is best. I normally like to have tomato slices in the morning with my breakfast. There are a variety of tomatoes to choose from and grocery shopping is usually not complete without it.

Cucumber: A perfect ingredient in salads, juices, smoothies. It quenches your thirst like water, and clears waste and toxins from your system. It is versatile in its use and great for many recipes. I highly recommend cucumber as an everyday food. 

Coconut: Rich in antioxidants and HDL, fresh coconut and coconut water is a great cooling food. Today we have access to coconut oil, coconut flour, coconut flakes, and fresh coconut, which can be easily added to any dish for its cooling effects and taste enhancement. 

Kiwi Fruit:  Higher in Vitamin C per ounce than most fruits! Kiwi fruit helps protect the skin from sun damage and hot weather – a great addition to salads, juices, or on its own.

Papaya or Paw paw: A tropical fruit that is excellent during the summer for its goodness and healing benefits. It helps with digestion and is filled with a mixture of important antioxidants. It is used often in Chinese medicine.

Green Tea: The effects of green tea are well known. In Chinese medicine, it is used to balance the body with its cooling properties in warm weather and warming properties in cold weather. 

Peppermint Tea (or fresh mint leaf infusions): Infuse your drinking water jug with fresh mint leaves everyday and enjoy the fresh and cooling benefits of peppermint. It has cooling and cleansing effects for your sinuses, nose, throat, and mucus.

Chrysanthemum Tea: Acts as a natural coolant and helps with lowering body temperature when suffering from heat stoke or fever. High amounts of vitamins and minerals are present like B Carotene that is converted to Vitamin A in the liver, in addition, it also has choline, folacin, niacin and riboflavin.