Great Foods for Summer Energy

by Master Chunyi Lin

Chinese nutrition focuses on the energetic properties of food. For example some foods are considered warming and others cooling.

In the heat of summer time cooling foods are very good. I’ve listed some wonderful ones below.

Cooling Foods

These fruits and vegetables can help your body adjust its temperature and protect you during the long, hot summer days: Red is the color of the Heart Meridian. You can use that color as a guide. For example, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, and watermelon are good summer energy choices. There also neutral foods you can add to your diet anytime like corn for example or potato, yam, turnip, carrot and apple. Organic almonds and peanuts are another neutral food.

Summer Cooling Food

Watermelon

Apricot

Cantaloupe

Lemon

Peach

Orange

Asparagus

Lettuce (many varieties)

Sprouts

Bamboo

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Chinese cabbage

Corn

Cucumber

Celery

Cauliflower

White mushroom

Snow peas

Spinach

Summer squash

Tomato

Sweet red bell pepper

Zucchini

Watercress

Seaweed

Non-GMO tofu

Mung beans

Cilantro (Chinese parsley)

Mint

Dill

Eat Light and Avoid Fatty Foods

During summer you want to eat light and eat moderately. When you overeat your body has to spend too much energy to digest your food, which leaves less energy for everything else.

Avoid fatty, greasy or oily foods. Limit your consumption of red meat and chicken. And limit your consumption of sugar.

Drink Lots of Healthy Fluids

Drink lots of fluids but when it’s very hot limit your consumption of really cold fluids. Too many cold fluids, like ice water are not helpful to the stomach and pancreas. They can also make digestion more difficult and take energy away from the heart. I am sure you have experienced feeling light headed in the summer heat after you ate a frozen dessert or drank an icy beverage.

If you drink alcohol, beer, wine or spirits, do so in moderation. This is always a good idea.

Refrain From Eating Before Bedtime

One more good tip for summer is to avoid eating anything, or drinking any alcohol, two hours before going to bed. It is not helpful for your liver and pancreas. Eating or drinking alcohol too close to bedtime weakens your earth energy, which is so important, especially in summer.

These tips can help you to get the most out of the wonderful energy of summer.