Is it good to eat watermelon in autumn? Will eating watermelon in autumn cause heatiness?
Watermelon is a common fruit that is very popular during summer. It tastes sweet, has ample water content, and is rich in nutrition. However, can we eat watermelon in autumn? Does eating watermelon cause heatiness in autumn? Let's take a look at the introduction of watermelons in autumn together with us! Many people like to eat watermelon; it tastes sweet and is rich in nutrients.
But does eating watermelon cause heatiness in autumn, which many people wonder about. Below, I will introduce whether eating watermelon causes heatiness in autumn, hoping to be helpful for everyone! Is eating watermelon good in autumn? We should try to eat less watermelon after the fall equinox because as the autumn progresses, our yang qi gradually becomes more constricted, and our stomachs become less tolerant of cold foods. Watermelons are heavy on moisture, which can cause us to feel chilled easily, leading to a decline in resistance against illness.
Watermelons that have been refrigerated for too long are easier to harm the spleen and stomach.
Suddenly encountering very cold food causes the smooth muscle and mucosa of the stomach to constrict or even spasm, which may lead to stomach pain or exacerbate existing stomach issues. It can also trigger sore throat or worsen existing throat inflammation. The optimal refrigeration temperature for watermelons is between 8℃-10℃; this temperature provides the best taste. Do not eat more than 500 grams of watermelon at once and consume it slowly.However, experts state that not everyone will experience diarrhea from eating watermelons in autumn as this depends on individual constitution differences—some people may be yin deficient while others yang deficient; usually, those who experience diarrhea after eating watermelons are often yin deficiency individuals. Doctors warn readers to still pay attention to their diet during the initial stage of autumn and avoid excessive coldness because the yang qi is weak, so prevent further damage to it. Suggested foods include pears, apples, and other cooling and lung-nourishing foods to combat "autumn dryness."In autumn, you can make some watermelon rind porridge for consumption; this porridge can help deal with the humid weather after the start of autumn by enhancing appetite and adjusting taste.
Take 100 grams of watermelon peel, 50 grams of rice, and 15 grams of sugar. Peel off the hard outer layer of the watermelon, cut it into small pieces. Clean the rice thoroughly and put it in a sand pot with an appropriate amount of water and the peeled watermelon; boil over high heat until it comes to a boil, then switch to low heat and cook until it becomes porridge, adding sugar before serving.Tip: People with stomach problems should avoid eating cold watermelons; those with diabetes should also limit their intake due to the high sugar content in watermelons. Pregnant women especially should not eat too much cold watermelon as overeating can cause diarrhea or gestational diabetes.For patients with congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease, eating too many watermelons can significantly increase fluid intake, which may exacerbate the burden on their hearts and kidneys; therefore, they should also limit their consumption. In general, people without digestive issues will not experience constipation or diarrhea from eating watermelons in moderation.
However, those with various gastrointestinal inflammations are not uncommon, along with stress and irregular schedules contributing to the increasing number of irritable bowel syndrome cases.As Director Yu says, constipation or diarrhea after eating a lot of watermelon often occurs in these groups because the high osmotic pressure in watermelons can alter gut function in those already prone to such issues. It is clear that "constipation and diarrhea" are not caused by watermelons but rather by pre-existing poor gut function, which then manifests as constipation or diarrhea after eating them. Therefore, people with these conditions should eat less or avoid watermelon altogether; it's also better to eat in smaller portions and avoid refrigerated watermelon.However, many people get heatiness from eating watermelons, a statement that is correct. The sweet taste of the watermelon promotes urination; after drinking much water due to eating watermelon, one's body fluids can be depleted, leading to symptoms such as dry throat and nosebleeds—these are signs of yin deficiency with internal fire. How to avoid this?One solution is to eat watermelons in moderation or sprinkle a bit of salt on them before eating. Saltiness nourishes the kidneys, while excessively sweet foods can harm the kidneys and cause leakage and frequent urination. Another important point is not to eat refrigerated watermelons; ice-cold food brings heavy coldness that penetrates into the watermelon, enters the stomach, aggravating the burden on the stomach and damaging its function, injuring one's yang qi. By eating too much watermelon in this way, initially it harms the stomach, but eventually it may affect the lungs, leading to various allergic symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and skin itching.Therefore, I strongly oppose overusing air conditioning in summer or immediately taking out cold watermelon from the refrigerator after coming home. You can soak the watermelon in ordinary tap water for a while, flip it around to cool evenly, making the temperature about 20℃; this type of cooling is more acceptable by the body, and you get fresh, juicy slices that still retain their moisture.
The green part between the watermelon rind and flesh is called the "watermelon peel" in traditional Chinese medicine. Dried, it can be used to make decoctions for clearing heat and relieving summer heat; we can also use it as a refreshing dish. After eating watermelon, remove the hard outer green layer, scrape out the red flesh, cut the middle part into thin strips, salt them, squeeze out the water, add vinegar, garlic, mix, and you get a refreshing, cooling, and invigorating salad. Is autumn watermelon considered a trigger food? Autumn watermelon is a trigger food.
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes diagnosis and treatment based on individual conditions; dietary restrictions should also consider "differential argumentation," like avoiding cold foods when one has a weak yang qi, loose stools, prefers warmth in the stomach, and feels cold in limbs.
For heat-related symptoms such as red eyes, fever, and hemorrhoids, avoid spicy, raw ginger, chili oil, etc. People with acute hepatitis should avoid oily, spicy foods, and those with damp-heat conditions should avoid greasy, hot foods; those with abdominal distension or bloating should avoid beans, sweet potatoes, etc.; heart disease patients should avoid fatty meat, cream, animal organs, fish roe, bone marrow, etc. For those prone to boils or carbuncles, fatty and spicy foods are also strictly prohibited.
Watermelon is categorized into six types of trigger foods:Heating substances such as garlic, pepper, mutton, dog meat, etc.;Allergenic substances like shrimp, crab, goose, egg, sprout tips, etc.;Damp-heat triggering substances like sugar, glutinous rice, pork, etc.;Cold accumulation triggering substances like watermelon, pear, persimmon, etc.;
Blood stimulating substances like chili pepper, pepper, etc.;Qi stagnation triggering substances like mutton, lily, lotus seed, etc.;Other long-established food triggers according to folk wisdom, such as yam bean, pickled vegetables, coriander, leek, etc. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that salty foods can nourish the kidneys, while eating very sweet foods can damage the kidneys and cause diarrhea.
Also, be careful not to eat chilled watermelon. Chilled watermelon contains a lot of cold energy that penetrates the fruit and, when eaten, further burdens the digestive system and damages its function, thus harming the body's "Yang" (vital energy). Eating watermelon in this way initially damages the stomach, and later damages the lungs, leading to various allergic symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, and even skin itching. Therefore, I strongly advise against overusing air conditioning and eating chilled watermelon as soon as you get home. You can soak watermelon in ordinary tap water, stir it, and let it cool gradually to around 20 degrees. This temperature is acceptable to the human body, and the resulting watermelon is also very juicy and retains its freshness. Therefore, we recommend that you eat watermelon this way.
The green rind and the part between the flesh and the rind of the watermelon, known as "watermelon green skin" in TCM, can be dried and used as a medicinal herb to clear heat and relieve summer fever. It can also be used as a good...cold dish.. After eating watermelon, remove the outer green rind and scrape off the red flesh, then cut the remaining green rind into thin strips, and use salt to cleanse it before removing the water. Then add a little...vinegar and garlic, and mix it together to make a delicious, refreshing, cooling, and heat-relieving cold dish.
Is watermelon a cold food in autumn?
Yes, watermelon is considered a cold food in autumn. TCM emphasizes diagnosing and treating diseases based on individual constitutions, and dietary restrictions should also be considered. For example, if a patient has a cold constitution and presents with symptoms such as cold, pale complexion, chills, abdominal pain that improves with heat, and cold extremities, they should avoid eating cold, raw foods like watermelon, pear, and bananas.If a patient has a fever with symptoms such as red, hot face, fever, hemorrhoids, insomnia, and irritability, they should avoid eating raw...；ginger and chili and garlic oil.For acute hepatitis, patients with yellow, thick, and greasy tongue, abdominal and chest swelling, poor appetite, and yellow urine are signs of damp heat, and they should avoid eating greasy and spicy foods, as well as nourishing items to relieve damp heat. Patients with abdominal bloating should avoid beans, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. For patients with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia, they should avoid fatty meat, cream, animal internal organs, fish eggs, and bone marrow. People prone to sores and boils are often caused by fire and heat, so avoid fatty, spicy foods.According to the properties of cold foods, there are six main categories: One is foods that induce fever, such as cucumber, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, mutton, and dog meat.Two is foods that induce wind, such as shrimp, crab, goose, eggs, and bitter melon. Three is foods that induce damp and heat, such as sugar, rice, pork. Four is foods that induce cold and stagnation, such as watermelon, pear, and persimmon.
Five is foods that induce bleeding, such as chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns.
Six is foods that induce gas, such as mutton, lotus seeds, and adzuki beans.Seven is commonly used cold foods, such as konjac, taro, kimchi, coriander, and scallion. Peppercorns Lamb,Dog meat etc.;
Two types of items that promote wind: shrimp, crab,Goose,Eggs etc.;
Three types of items that promote damp heat: sugar,Sticky rice,Pork etc.;
Four types of items that promote cold accumulation: watermelon, pear, persimmon, and other cold items;
Five types of items that promote blood stasis: chili peppers, peppercorns, etc.;
Six types of items that promote stagnation of Qi: lamb,Lotus seeds,Coix seeds etc.;
Seven types of commonly used, practical items:Konjac，Taro Pickles,Coriander,Leeks etc.
