The arrival of the Cold Dew solar term signifies more pronounced autumnal phenomena. It heralds a continued drop in temperature and increasingly dry air. Without proper care, the body becomes vulnerable to illness and injury. For instance, greater attention should be paid to diet. Therefore, let's quickly explore key dietary considerations around the Cold Dew solar term.
Dietary Guidelines Around Cold Dew
1. Prioritize sweet, mild, and moisturizing foods
During Cold Dew, incorporate sweet, mild, and moisturizing foods into your daily meals. These help nourish the spleen and stomach while hydrating the lungs and intestines, effectively preventing and alleviating dry throat and mouth. Recommended options include white fungus, snow pears, radishes, and apples.
For those seeking to nourish the spleen and stomach, warm porridges like Chinese yam porridge, sugarcane porridge, raw rehmannia porridge, or solomon's seal porridge are recommended. Of course, any porridge made with glutinous rice or japonica rice is suitable for breakfast.
2. Incorporate sour foods
Sour flavors possess astringent and contracting properties. When consumed, they help prevent the dispersion of vital energy and minimize energy loss. Additionally, sour tastes can consolidate and nourish the lungs. As autumn brings rampant dryness that frequently assaults the lungs, consuming appropriate amounts of sour foods can help repair lung damage.
Common sour fruits include oranges, grapes, and hawthorn berries. However, avoid excessive consumption at once, as this may irritate the stomach and cause discomfort.
3. Increase intake of root vegetables
As the Cold Dew solar term arrives, incorporate more root vegetables into your diet for health benefits. Compared to other vegetables, these have lower pesticide residue levels on their surfaces, making them safer to consume.Common root vegetables include lotus root, Chinese yam, radish, and potato. Among these, Chinese yam is especially recommended. It's both nutritious and delicious, rich in vitamin B and minerals like potassium. It also helps curb hunger by increasing satiety and reducing food intake, making it an excellent choice for weight management.
4. Exercise restraint when eating crabs
Autumn is when crabs taste their best. As the Cold Dew solar term arrives and temperatures drop, it's the prime season for enjoying female crabs. Crab lovers often buy them home to cook or order crab dishes when dining out.
Note: Crab has a cold nature and shouldn't be consumed in large quantities. One or two servings per meal is sufficient—avoid eating an entire cooked crab at once. Otherwise, it may easily cause diarrhea or other discomfort.Additionally, persimmons are currently in season. However, consuming persimmons and crabs together can easily lead to the formation of stones. Therefore, never eat persimmons after eating crabs, nor crabs after eating persimmons. This is essential knowledge to remember.
Also note that individuals prone to cold sensitivity, pregnant women, and those with allergies should avoid crab. It's best to steer clear of it in your regular diet.
Cold Dew Season Wellness Recipe
Ingredients: Prepare 1 pound of Chinese yam, along with sugar, vegetable oil, and sesame oil to taste.
Cooking Instructions:
1. Rinse the yam thoroughly to remove surface dirt. After washing, peel off the skin. Tip: Wear disposable or rubber gloves while peeling to prevent itching. Avoid rinsing the peeled yam with hot water, as this may intensify the itching sensation.After washing, cut into irregular chunks and set aside.
2. Clean the wok and place it over high heat. Pour in vegetable oil and heat until it reaches medium heat (about 120°C/248°F). Add the yam chunks and deep-fry until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain excess oil on a wire rack.
3. Dissolve sugar in water and pour into the pan. Stir over low heat until the syrup thickens and becomes stringy. Immediately add the fried yam. Toss repeatedly until the syrup coats the yam completely. Remove from heat and drizzle with sesame oil before serving.