5 Effective Dietary Methods for Preventing Heatstroke and Cooling Down

In the scorching summer, the heat is unbearable. The months of June, July, and August are traditionally the summer season, and in some regions, the hot period can be even longer due to different geographical locations. In daily life, fruit juice, ice cream, and other cold drinks and foods are commonly used to cool down and relieve heat. However, there are many other preferred items for preventing heatstroke and cooling down. Here are 5 effective dietary methods for preventing heatstroke, for your reference.

Saltwater

In the hot summer, excessive sweating causes a decrease in salt in the body, which leads to an imbalance in osmotic pressure and can result in heatstroke. Drinking saltwater or salted tea can replenish the lost salt in the body, thus achieving the effect of preventing heatstroke.

Tea

Potassium is an important trace element in the human body that maintains the normal function of nerves and muscles, especially the normal movement of the heart. If there is a potassium deficiency, a person may feel tired and weak, and their heat tolerance will decrease. Severe potassium deficiency can cause arrhythmia and general muscle weakness. Potassium is easily lost through sweat in the summer, so tea at a suitable temperature should be the first choice of beverage. Drinking tea is the best way to supplement potassium, as tea leaves contain a relatively high amount of potassium, accounting for about 1.5% of its weight.

Vinegar

In the summer, people drink more water, which reduces stomach acid and decreases appetite. Moderate consumption of vinegar can increase the concentration of stomach acid, promote saliva production, stimulate appetite, and aid digestion. Adding vinegar during cooking can increase stomach acid production, enhance appetite, and improve the bactericidal effect in the gastrointestinal tract, which is particularly important during the season when intestinal infectious diseases are prevalent. Additionally, adding a few drops of vinegar during cooking can reduce the loss of vitamin C in vegetables and facilitate the absorption of iron in food.

Mung Bean Soup

According to traditional Chinese medicine, mung beans have the effects of cooling, nourishing qi, clearing heat and toxins, moisturizing the throat, quenching thirst, and diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Mung bean soup has a unique heat-clearing effect. Experimental studies have shown that mung beans have significant effects in treating atherosclerosis, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, and protecting the liver. The only drawback is that mung beans are too cooling and should not be consumed by those who are physically weak.

Bitter Melon

Watermelon has always been considered a precious fruit for cooling down in the summer. However, theoretically speaking, the most appetizing, refreshing, and heat-clearing melon food is bitter melon. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that bitter melon tastes bitter, has a cold nature, and can clear heat and relieve fire. The slightly bitter taste of bitter melon stimulates the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, increases appetite, and clears heat, making it suitable for consumption in the summer. Fresh bitter melon juice or soup is a good supplementary food for liver fire, red eyes due to liver heat, gastric pain, and damp-heat diarrhea. Drinking bitter melon-infused herbal tea can cool down and refresh the mind after consumption.