Melon Congees Boost Appetite, Meat Congees Provide Nutrition: Beat the Heat with Some (Cooling Congees)
Melon Congees Boost Appetite, Meat Congees Provide Nutrition: Beat the Heat with Some (Cooling Congees)
As we enter the dog days of summer, the frequent occurrence of sweltering and humid weather often leads to a decrease in our appetite. Poor eating habits can deprive the body of essential nutrients, affecting our daily lives and work. We recommend trying some "cooling congees" to replenish nutrition and help you combat the heat.
Melon congees such as watermelon congee, sponge gourd congee, bitter melon congee, cucumber congee, and more can be excellent choices. Watermelon, with its cooling properties, helps relieve heat, quench thirst, and promote diuresis. When cooked into congee, it becomes sweet and delicious, making it suitable for people with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Sponge gourd, known for its mild and sweet flavor, has the effects of clearing heat, detoxification, resolving phlegm, relieving cough, and cooling and coagulating the blood. Sponge gourd congee is a refreshing option and can be beneficial for those with oral ulcers. Bitter melon congee not only clears heat but also stimulates gastric juice secretion, enhancing appetite and making it a good choice for diabetes patients. Cucumber congee is refreshing and hydrating, helping prevent constipation. Melons are easy to cook, but when making congee, it's best to bring the rice to a boil first, and when the congee is nearly done, add the chopped melon pieces, let them boil briefly, stir well, and simmer until the congee is ready.
Bean congees such as mung bean congee, lentil congee, red bean congee, and more are also beneficial. Beans like mung beans, lentils, and red beans all have spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing properties and are rich in B vitamins and minerals. Drinking bean congee regularly can effectively replenish the nutrients lost through sweating. To save cooking time and improve the texture of the congee, it's advisable to soak the mixed beans (mung beans, red beans, etc.) for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours, before cooking. If you want to save time, you can simply put the mixed beans in a container, cover them with water, and soak them overnight in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial overgrowth.
Meat congees like fish slice congee, lean pork and preserved egg congee, egg drop congee, and others can provide a tasty and nutritious option. Fish slice congee is delicious, nutrient-rich, and easily digestible, making it suitable for children and the elderly with poor dental health. Lean pork and preserved egg congee has a thick texture and smooth taste, contributing to iron and various vitamins intake, suitable for those with digestive issues, weakness, or low blood pressure. It's essential to use less salt when making these congees to avoid increasing the risk of high blood pressure. Additionally, avoid overcooking the fish slices and lean pork to prevent excessive nutrient loss.
Traditional Chinese medicinal congees like lily congee, barley congee, lotus seed congee, and others offer their unique benefits. Lily, with its sweet, neutral, and slightly bitter taste, has the function of calming the heart and soothing the mind. Barley, as described in "Compendium of Materia Medica," strengthens the spleen and stomach, nourishes the lungs, clears heat, dispels wind, enhances beauty, and prolongs life. Lotus seeds have a neutral nature and can nourish the heart, calm the mind, strengthen the spleen, and tonify the kidneys. From a nutritional perspective, all three ingredients are rich in vitamins and minerals, making them particularly suitable for consumption during hot weather.
As we enter the dog days of summer, the frequent occurrence of sweltering and humid weather often leads to a decrease in our appetite. Poor eating habits can deprive the body of essential nutrients, affecting our daily lives and work. We recommend trying some "cooling congees" to replenish nutrition and help you combat the heat.
Melon congees such as watermelon congee, sponge gourd congee, bitter melon congee, cucumber congee, and more can be excellent choices. Watermelon, with its cooling properties, helps relieve heat, quench thirst, and promote diuresis. When cooked into congee, it becomes sweet and delicious, making it suitable for people with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Sponge gourd, known for its mild and sweet flavor, has the effects of clearing heat, detoxification, resolving phlegm, relieving cough, and cooling and coagulating the blood. Sponge gourd congee is a refreshing option and can be beneficial for those with oral ulcers. Bitter melon congee not only clears heat but also stimulates gastric juice secretion, enhancing appetite and making it a good choice for diabetes patients. Cucumber congee is refreshing and hydrating, helping prevent constipation. Melons are easy to cook, but when making congee, it's best to bring the rice to a boil first, and when the congee is nearly done, add the chopped melon pieces, let them boil briefly, stir well, and simmer until the congee is ready.
Bean congees such as mung bean congee, lentil congee, red bean congee, and more are also beneficial. Beans like mung beans, lentils, and red beans all have spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing properties and are rich in B vitamins and minerals. Drinking bean congee regularly can effectively replenish the nutrients lost through sweating. To save cooking time and improve the texture of the congee, it's advisable to soak the mixed beans (mung beans, red beans, etc.) for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours, before cooking. If you want to save time, you can simply put the mixed beans in a container, cover them with water, and soak them overnight in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial overgrowth.
Meat congees like fish slice congee, lean pork and preserved egg congee, egg drop congee, and others can provide a tasty and nutritious option. Fish slice congee is delicious, nutrient-rich, and easily digestible, making it suitable for children and the elderly with poor dental health. Lean pork and preserved egg congee has a thick texture and smooth taste, contributing to iron and various vitamins intake, suitable for those with digestive issues, weakness, or low blood pressure. It's essential to use less salt when making these congees to avoid increasing the risk of high blood pressure. Additionally, avoid overcooking the fish slices and lean pork to prevent excessive nutrient loss.
Traditional Chinese medicinal congees like lily congee, barley congee, lotus seed congee, and others offer their unique benefits. Lily, with its sweet, neutral, and slightly bitter taste, has the function of calming the heart and soothing the mind. Barley, as described in "Compendium of Materia Medica," strengthens the spleen and stomach, nourishes the lungs, clears heat, dispels wind, enhances beauty, and prolongs life. Lotus seeds have a neutral nature and can nourish the heart, calm the mind, strengthen the spleen, and tonify the kidneys. From a nutritional perspective, all three ingredients are rich in vitamins and minerals, making them particularly suitable for consumption during hot weather.
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