Eating lamb in summer is commonly known as "Fu Yang" (literally, "supressing the lamb"). As early as the times of the ancient Chinese emperors Yao and Shun, the tradition of eating lamb for health benefits during summer has been passed down. It is widely known that lamb is a nourishing food with warm properties. People believe that eating lamb in summer can "treat heat with heat, induce sweating, and detoxify". But is this claim scientifically valid? Is it good to eat lamb in summer?
The Nutritional Value of Lamb
Lamb contains a high amount of protein and relatively less fat compared to other meats. It is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, B6, as well as iron, zinc, and selenium. In the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, lamb can tonify qi, strengthen the spleen, nourish the kidneys and yang, and protect the liver and stomach. It is considered an excellent nourishing food.
Eating Lamb in Summer
Some people have doubts about eating lamb for nourishment during summer, believing that it is futile due to excessive sweating. However, for those with a weak and cold constitution, consuming some warm lamb during this time can be highly beneficial, making their nourishment more effective.
Benefits of Eating Lamb in Summer
During the hot summer season, people often seek relief in air-conditioned rooms, making them more susceptible to cold invasion. Additionally, the summer season is often humid, which can easily damage the spleen and stomach. Eating lamb in moderation can dispel dampness, avoid coldness, and warm the stomach, promoting salivation. Especially during the three periods of intense summer heat, consuming lamb can invigorate the body's yang energy and improve overall physical fitness. As the saying goes, "a bowl of lamb soup during the 'Fu Yang' period can replace the need for medicine". Eating lamb in summer is extremely beneficial for preventing chronic diseases that are prone to occur in winter.
Who Should Eat Lamb in Summer
The hot summer weather easily depletes qi and body fluids, leading to various deficiencies. Traditional Chinese medicine believes in "tonifying what is deficient". For those with a yang deficiency constitution, characterized by aversion to cold, cold limbs, lumbago, dysmenorrhea, impotence, premature ejaculation, and frequent fatigue, eating lamb in summer can improve their physical fitness and alleviate symptoms of yang deficiency.
Who Should Avoid Eating Lamb in Summer
Whether or not "Fu Yang" is suitable depends on each individual's constitution. Those with a hot body, excessive yang, excessive internal heat, or yin deficiency may exhibit symptoms such as fever, toothache, mouth ulcers, coughing up yellow phlegm, high blood pressure, acute enteritis, or other infectious diseases, and are not suitable for consuming lamb. This group of people should not eat lamb not only in summer but also in winter, and should consume it in moderation.
