Summer: Staying Cool Without Weakening Digestion
Eating for Summer: Staying Cool Without Weakening Digestion In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), summer is the season of Fire —associated with the Heart , the Small Intestine , and the outward expression of joy. It’s a time of growth, movement, and social activity. But the same fire that brings vitality can also overheat the system, especially if we’re not mindful of what we eat and drink. TCM encourages seasonal eating not through hard rules, but through balance. In summer, this means cooling the body without damaging the digestion. One of the first instincts in hot weather is to reach for cold drinks and raw foods. And while that can feel satisfying in the moment, TCM offers a more nuanced view. Cold foods and drinks may temporarily reduce body temperature, but they also inhibit the Spleen and Stomach Qi —the very organs responsible for transforming food into energy. If these become weakened, we may experience bloating, fatigue, loose stools, or even p...