Long term consumption of raw and cold foods, as well as weight loss during the bitter summer, are not advisable

Ma Jianling, chief physician of Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, introduced in Beijing on the 30th that the spleen and stomach "prefer warmth and dislike coldness", and long-term consumption of raw and cold foods such as ice cream and cold drinks is not advisable. Losing weight through "bitter summer" is also not advisable.

On that day, the National Health Commission held a press conference in Beijing to introduce the relationship between seasonal solar terms and health (Li Xia). Ma Jianling stated at the meeting that the spleen and stomach are located in the middle burner, like the "central kitchen" of the human body. As the foundation of postnatal life and the source of qi and blood biochemistry, their function is to process the food they eat into a nutritious meal. Long term consumption of raw and cold food can lead to symptoms such as indigestion, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which are not advisable.

Ma Jianling also mentioned that everyone's constitution is different, and there are individual and regional differences. Most Westerners are able to get used to raw and cold foods, which is related to their long-term high calorie, high protein diet and constitution.

After the beginning of summer, the weather becomes hot, and some people may experience symptoms such as fatigue, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, and irritability, known as "bitter summer". Is it feasible to lose weight in the bitter summer? Ma Jianling said that "bitter summer" is not a disease, but a state of discomfort for the body in hot weather. It is not advisable to lose weight through the "bitter summer" because long-term loss of appetite can lead to the body entering a "famine state" and a decrease in metabolism, which is not easy to lose weight and can instead lead to malnutrition. Even if there is a temporary decrease in weight, there will be a particularly rapid rebound after dietary recovery.

At the beginning of summer, Ma Jianling suggests eating some warm and hair raising foods, such as seasonal vegetables like chives and toon. You can also learn from the traditional health preservation method of "eating ginger in summer" and eat some "ginger silk, tangerine peel, hawthorn drink" which can invigorate the spleen, warm yang, dissolve dampness, and stomach. Pay attention to covering your stomach and protecting your feet when sleeping at night to prevent the invasion of cold air. At the same time, you can massage the Shenque and Zhongwan acupoints more to regulate the spleen and stomach.