No need for ice to stay cool too—5 fruits and veggies that beat summer heat

Reported by Xiao Wanning / Taipei

In recent years, summers have been getting hotter, with record-breaking temperatures that are truly unbearable. But can eating ice really help you cool off?According to a report in "CommonHealth Magazine," from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, ice is considered a "cold and damp substance." Eating too much of it can slow down metabolism and affect the functioning of internal organs.Therefore, it’s better to choose fruits and vegetables to beat the heat. "Eastern Travel Cloud" has compiled a list of five summer fruits and veggies that not only cool your body but also contribute to your health.

▲ Watermelon is a great summer coolant. (Photo / File photo)

1. Watermelon
Watermelon is naturally cooling and is basically a must-eat fruit in the summer. Not only is it in season during the hot months, but it also quenches thirst. On scorching, dizzying days, slicing into a cool piece of watermelon is truly a delight. Moreover, according to an experiment published in the Journal of Nutrition, adding arginine to the diet of obese mice over three months reduced their fat accumulation by 64%. Watermelon happens to be rich in arginine (a type of amino acid). Researchers also analyzed that this amino acid in the diet can promote the oxidation of fats and glucose, as well as increase the proportion of lean muscle.

2. Mung beans
When it comes to cooling foods, mung beans are definitely essential. Mung bean soup, known for clearing heat, detoxifying, and quenching thirst, has long been a beloved dessert to help people get through the peak of summer. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Dong Yanling said in a recent interview, “The skin of mung beans has heat-clearing properties,” so it’s recommended not to cook mung bean soup for too long. Overcooking makes the beans too mushy and reduces their cooling effect. It’s best to turn off the heat once the bean skins just begin to crack.

3. Bitter melon
Aside from mung beans, don’t forget about bitter melon, another heat-clearing and detoxifying food. Low in calories and rich in vitamin C, B1, B12, and folic acid, bitter melon not only helps cool the body but also aids in controlling blood sugar and blood lipids, preventing cardiovascular diseases and fat buildup, and even promoting the apoptosis of fat cells.

4. Asparagus
Summer is the best season to enjoy asparagus. Traditional Chinese Medicine texts note that asparagus is sweet, cold, non-toxic, and has diuretic properties. Whether you’re suffering from dry mouth in the sweltering heat, post-exercise thirst, or feverish dryness, eating asparagus can cool you down and reduce summer heat. Additionally, according to domestic media reports, asparagus is high in protein and rich in amino acids, including asparagine, which can accelerate nitrogen metabolism in the body and help eliminate fatigue.

5. Celery
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine texts, celery, also known as medicinal celery, has the effects of soothing the liver, clearing heat, dispelling wind, and promoting diuresis. In the hot and humid summer, eating celery helps cool the body and remove excess moisture. At the same time, research from the University of Chicago found that celery contains various compounds that lower blood pressure. In experiments, it was shown to reduce both blood pressure and cholesterol levels. With its high potassium content, celery also helps the body expel sodium. In recent years, it has also been discovered that celery leaves contain more vitamin C than the stems.