Staying Cool with Dietary Therapy

Dietary therapy is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM theory believes that foods have either a warming or cooling nature. In summer, we can take advantage of cooling foods to help beat the heat.

One of the best foods for summer heat is something you probably gravitate towards naturally during this time—watermelon. You can read more about its nutritional properties here. Other members of the melon family, including cucumber, can also be helpful.

Mung beans, while not a common food here in the U.S., are a traditional Chinese remedy for overheating. And for drinking, lemonade, chrysanthemum tea, and mint tea all have cooling properties.

If you are interested in finding out more about Chinese dietary therapy, two good books are Healing with Whole Foods and The Tao of Healthy Eating.