Chinese dietetics: 3 recipes to take care of your health in summer
According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, we have been immersed in the energy of summer since the beginning of May. The second season of the year, summer is associated in Chinese culture with maturity and blossoming. On an energetic level, Yang, linked to heat, the sun and activity, reaches its peak.
With this rise in energy, balancing what is on our plate is essential to preserve our health and take care of our body. Discover how to protect your Heart with the advice of Chinese dietetics, along with 3 original and tasty recipes that are, above all, very easy to make!
Taking care of your Heart in summer
It goes without saying that taking care of your Heart all year round is essential for good health. In traditional Chinese medicine, the Heart is the organ of summer, so it is vital to pay it particular attention and protect it from the energetic dangers that threaten at this time of year.
Essential to our physical and mental well-being, the energy of the Heart needs to be nourished, preserved and kept in check. How can you protect it?
Clearing Heat with Chinese dietetics
In summer, several disruptive energies appear that can upset the body’s balance. For example, Heat and its manifestations can seriously affect the body in summer.
When there is an abundance of it in the body, Heat causes a number of physical disorders: a feeling of heavy legs, a rise in temperature, intense thirst, excessive sweating, a feeling of exhaustion. It can even lead to emotional disorders: pathogenic Heat encourages the organs to become overactive, causing skin rashes, mouth ulcers, urinary disorders (dark urine) or bowel disorders (constipation).
To avoid these symptoms and drive out Heat, Chinese dietetics advises favouring the bitter flavour. Being Yin in nature, it drains Heat downwards and protects the body from its manifestations. 1 So, to clear Heat and stay in shape in summer, add foods such as asparagus, celery or wheat to your dishes, and to stay hydrated, choose oolong tea.
As with every season, there is a colour to favour, and in summer, red takes pride of place! This colour conveys a powerful, positive energy and, for some people, symbolises festivities and happy ceremonies. Red foods have affinities with the Heart and have tonifying and outward-moving properties. In short, favour fruit and vegetables such as watermelon, radish, tomato, beetroot and red beans. 2
Finally, foods that are cold or cool in nature will do you good this season, since they help to drive out Heat and protect the Heart. Choose foods such as mint, aubergines or strawberries.
Plants that are allies of the heart
Plants are excellent allies in preserving our health. Discover three plants listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia that act on the Heart and protect its energy:
-
Dan shen – red sage: Sometimes nicknamed “the queen of circulation”, Dan shen is reputed in TCM to clear Heat, cool the Blood and calm the Mind. It strengthens the Heart and overcomes chest pain and palpitations. It is also used to relieve hot flushes, stimulate memory and promote blood circulation.
-
Dang gui – Chinese angelica: It has a reputation as women’s ally. However, its properties are not limited to women’s comfort since, by tonifying the Blood, it promotes blood circulation and protects the Heart from cardiovascular disease.
-
Shan zha – hawthorn fruit: Used in the Chinese pharmacopoeia notably to regulate high blood pressure and transform Blood Stasis, Shan zha promotes blood circulation, reduces the severity of angina attacks and prevents heart complications in elderly patients by strengthening the health of the Heart. It can also help to lower blood pressure and blood fat levels. What is more, it calms the Shen and soothes anxiety. 3
3 recipes for summer
Asian cucumber salad with peanuts
Energy profile:
Cold in nature and sweet and bitter in flavour, cucumber is a summer vegetable known for being very refreshing. It quenches thirst and promotes the circulation of water.4 It is well worth adding this vegetable to your summer meals. As for peanuts, they are neutral in nature and very nourishing.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, finely sliced
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chilli sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 cucumbers
- 130 ml chopped peanuts
Method:
Wash the cucumbers and cut them in half lengthways, then peel them and cut them into long strips. Toast the peanuts over a medium heat for 3 minutes and leave them to cool. In a salad bowl, mix the vinegar, chilli sauce, coriander and oil, then add the cucumber strips and toss. Serve the cucumber salad sprinkled with peanuts.
Watermelon and tomato salad
Energy profile:
As mentioned earlier, red is the star colour of the summer season. Cool in nature, tomato dispels Heat, quenches thirst and speeds up transit. As for watermelon, which is cold in nature, it combats internal Heat. Eating these two fresh fruits hydrates the body and keeps water in the body for as long as possible.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 watermelon
- 2 to 3 tomatoes
- 150 g feta
- 6 sprigs of mint
- 6 sprigs of parsley
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper
Method:
Nothing could be simpler! Open the watermelon and remove all the seeds. Dice it, along with the tomatoes. In a salad bowl, mix the salt, pepper, vinegar and olive oil. Add the diced watermelon and tomato. Finally, sprinkle with mint, chopped parsley and feta, and enjoy!
Aubergine caviar
Energy profile:
Cool in nature and sweet in flavour, aubergines are perfect for summer. They drive out Heat and promote Blood circulation. They also act on the mind in a way that encourages calm.
Ingredients:
- 3 aubergines
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 50 ml lemon juice
- 20 g olive oil
- Salt, pepper
Method:
Wash the aubergines and cut them lengthways. Then bake them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 210°C.
Leave them to cool for about 2 minutes, then scoop out the flesh and mash it with a fork. Add the lemon juice and olive oil and stir. Then add the chopped garlic cloves. Season with salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients well. Finally, serve with slices of sandwich bread. Enjoy your meal!
It is possible to take care of your health while treating yourself. This summer, take care of your Heart and your health with tasty little dishes!
