It's a hot summer day, and I don't feel like eating. Any recommendations?

Let's not talk about food recommendations first, but why do we lose our appetite in the summer? What causes this?

1. High temperatures inhibit digestion


When temperatures exceed 30°C, the body's blood supply to internal organs decreases, prioritizing heat dissipation (increased blood flow to the skin). This leads to decreased digestive enzyme activity and weakened gastric motility. As a result, food accumulates in the stomach, causing a feeling of fullness and a loss of appetite.


2. Excessive sweating and electrolyte imbalance


Excessive sweating causes loss of sodium, potassium, and zinc (zinc is a component of taste buds), leading to a bland taste and decreased interest in food. This can lead to a craving for ice water and fruit, and a reluctance to eat regular meals.


3. Reduced metabolic demand


Winter requires more calories to keep warm, while summer's basal metabolic rate decreases by about 10%, naturally leading to a decrease in appetite.


4. The "Invisible Harm" of Cold Drinks/Air Conditioning


Frequently drinking chilled drinks in the summer: Chilled drinks instantly suppress stomach acid secretion, leading to indigestion over the long term.


Excessive use of air conditioning or fans: These low temperatures trick the body into thinking it doesn't need energy, further reducing appetite.


5. Psychological Factors (Irritability in Hot Weather)


High temperatures stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, triggering "summer bitterness" (irritability, fatigue), which indirectly affects appetite.


Now that we've explained the reasons, it's clear why we lose our appetite in the summer. Based on the analysis above, it's true that we still crave cold foods. So, here's a recipe you can make at home: cucumber salad.


1. Cold Cucumber Salad

Ingredients (Serves 2):

(1) 2 cucumbers (about 400g);

(2) 3 cloves of garlic (minced);

(3) 1 chili pepper (optional, cut into rings);

(4) 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (about 10ml);

(5) 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce (about 10ml);

(6) ½ tablespoon of sesame oil (about 5ml);

(7) ½ tablespoon of sugar (about 3g, optional);

(8) ½ tablespoon of salt (about 3g, for pickling cucumbers).


Tip: If you don’t like spicy food, you can omit the chili pepper. You can also add seasonings according to your own preferences.


Steps:

Cucumber Preparation:

(1) Wash the cucumber and crack it (using the back of a knife to crack it makes it easier to absorb the flavor), cut it into sections or dice, and put it in a bowl. (2) Add 1/2 spoon of salt to the bowl and mix well. Let it sit for 10 minutes to pickle the cucumbers and discard the excess water (to reduce the astringency of the cucumbers).

Make the sauce:

Add minced garlic, chili pepper (optional), balsamic vinegar, light soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar to a bowl and mix well.

Mixing:

Pour the sauce into the cucumbers, mix well, and refrigerate for 10 minutes to make them crispier.


The method is written for everyone. Isn’t it simple? Although cucumber salad is simple, it has a lot of nutrients and is also suitable for summer consumption.


Why are cucumbers suitable for summer consumption? Let’s take a look at the reasons:


(1) Extremely low in calories: 100g of cucumbers has only 15 calories, which is suitable for people who want to lose weight.


(2) High in water: 96% water content, which helps replenish water and promotes metabolism.


(3) Dietary fiber: 1.2g/100g, which increases satiety and relieves constipation.


As you can see, eating cucumbers in the summer has many benefits.


Summary:

Although your appetite may be low in the summer, avoid consuming a lot of cold drinks. Cold drinks only irritate your stomach, potentially leading to intestinal and stomach inflammation.

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