Ancient Chinese regarded the "Beginning of Autumn" as a pivotal transition between summer and fall, placing great importance on this solar term. With significant day-night temperature fluctuations during this period, the body may feel somewhat weakened after enduring a hot summer, inevitably leading to reduced immunity.
As the saying goes, "A summer without illness leaves one three parts depleted." Though mornings and evenings grow cooler after Autumn's Beginning, the lingering heat of the "Indian summer" persists, making people prone to fatigue, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Following the TCM principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter," supplementation is essential at this time—but avoid excessive tonics.From a TCM perspective, excessive tonification is inadvisable around the start of autumn. Instead, incorporate moisture-expelling foods into your diet around this time. Consider enjoying a bowl of porridge upon waking. Today, we'll share several simple and easy-to-make nourishing multigrain porridge recipes. Mung Bean Porridge Method: 1. Rinse the rice thoroughly with water. Remove impurities from the mung beans and wash them clean.
2. Place mung beans in a pot with approximately 1750g of water. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 40 minutes until beans are tender. Add rice and cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes until grains bloom and porridge thickens. Cool, then stir in rock sugar before serving.
Benefits: Clears heat and detoxifies, relieves summer heat and quenches thirst, reduces swelling, and lowers lipids. Suitable for heatstroke, summer heat with thirst, boils and abscesses, food poisoning, and also helps prevent arteriosclerosis.
Lotus Leaf Porridge
Method: Use one fresh lotus leaf (approx. 200g), 100g japonica rice, and sugar to taste. Rinse the rice, add water, and cook into porridge. When nearly done, place the washed fresh lotus leaf over the porridge, cover, and steam for about 15 minutes. Remove the lotus leaf, bring to a boil again briefly, then serve. Add sugar to taste when drinking.
Benefits: Clears summer heat and dampness, promotes ascending yang energy, stops bleeding, lowers blood pressure, and reduces blood lipids. Suitable for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and summer heat-induced chest tightness, thirst, and scanty dark urine.
Red Date and Lotus Seed Porridge
Method: 1. Wash red dates, remove pits; rinse lotus seeds and japonica rice.
2. Place red dates, lotus seeds, rice, and ginger in a clay pot. Add sufficient water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until porridge forms. Season with a pinch of salt.
Benefits: Red dates have a neutral nature and excellent tonifying properties. When simmered with lotus seeds and japonica rice, they nourish the spleen and stomach, firm the intestines and secure essence, and calm the heart and spirit. This porridge is especially suitable for spring consumption.
For those with weak spleen and stomach or poor digestion, it is crucial to avoid rich, yin-nourishing ingredients like deer antler gelatin or donkey-hide gelatin during this season. Otherwise, symptoms like loss of appetite and indigestion may worsen. Instead, consuming more porridges like coix seed porridge or mung bean porridge, which strengthen the spleen and drain dampness, can greatly benefit the body.
Additionally, at the onset of autumn, avoid excessive cooling. Refrain from prolonged exposure to air conditioning, extended stays under tree shade, in water pavilions, or on balconies, and do not sleep with a fan blowing directly on you. Increase intake of ginger and brown sugar tea, and never consume large amounts of cold boiled water or chilled beverages quickly.