Gaining weight and nourishing the body in autumn can easily lead to more harm than good.
In my country, there is a folk custom of "sticking to autumn fat" (eating rich and delicious food, "sticking to fat"). However, experts point out that "sticking to autumn fat" should be done according to the individual, place, and time of year; otherwise, it will not only fail to have a health-preserving effect but may also be harmful to health.
Xia Gongxu, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Nanjing Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, explained that after a long, sweltering summer, the body loses a significant amount of protein, trace elements, and fat. Appropriate "autumn fattening" (eating more to prepare for winter) is beneficial for restoring energy, but excessive supplementation coupled with insufficient exercise and low calorie expenditure can easily lead to obesity. After the start of autumn, people should scientifically choose vegetables suitable for autumn, such as bean sprouts, spinach, carrots, celery, bok choy, and lettuce, which are nutritious and unlikely to cause weight gain.
Xia Gongxu, Deputy Chief Physician of Traditional Chinese Medicine, explained that the practice of "sticking to autumn fat" originated in the north, which is related to the climate there. However, in the Jiangnan region, after the start of autumn, the weather doesn't immediately cool down; the heat and humidity remain relatively high. At this time, people's spleen and stomach functions are still not very good. If one "sticks to autumn fat" at this time, it will increase the burden on the spleen and stomach, leading to the accumulation of damp heat in the gastrointestinal tract, which can more easily induce colds, constipation, and fever. Therefore, supplementing the body in early autumn can be considered counterproductive.
Three types of people should not gain weight in autumn.
Associate Chief Physician Xia Gongxu specifically reminds the following three types of people that when it comes to "gaining weight in autumn," they should pay special attention to the selection of ingredients and the techniques for doing so.
1. Patients with spleen deficiency. People with spleen deficiency often experience symptoms such as poor appetite, abdominal distension, fatigue, weakness, occasional diarrhea, and a sallow complexion. Before taking any tonics, these individuals may benefit from consuming foods that strengthen the spleen and stomach to promote the recovery of spleen and stomach function. Good choices include Poria cocos cake, fox nuts, yam, cowpeas, and millet. Porridge can harmonize the stomach, nourish the spleen, and moisten dryness; therefore, porridge made with the above-mentioned foods will have even better therapeutic effects.
2. Those with excessive stomach heat. People who habitually consume spicy and greasy foods are prone to developing internal heat over time, which accumulates in the stomach and intestines, manifesting as burning sensation in the stomach, a preference for cold drinks, bad breath, and constipation. These individuals must clear the stomach heat before taking any tonics. They should moderately increase their intake of bitter melon, cucumber, winter melon, bitter greens, and bitter tea, and wait until the stomach heat subsides before taking any tonics.
3. Elderly people and children. Due to their weaker digestive abilities, they often have undigested food in their stomachs, manifesting as loss of appetite or abdominal bloating after meals. Therefore, before taking any tonics, it is important to focus on aiding digestion and soothing the stomach. It is advisable to eat appropriate amounts of hawthorn, white radish, and other foods that aid digestion, strengthen the spleen, and soothe the stomach.
We can't eat watermelon as much as we want after the start of autumn.
In many places, there's a custom of "nibbling on autumn" on the day of the Autumnal Equinox, a tradition still preserved by many older Nanjing residents. People in Nanjing buy a watermelon on the Autumnal Equinox and the whole family gathers around to eat it – this is called "nibbling on autumn," and it's said to prevent prickly heat. In some places, "nibbling on autumn" is also called "biting autumn," symbolizing biting off the unbearable heat of summer as autumn arrives. However, experts warn against eating iced watermelon during this time. Wang Dongxu, Deputy Chief Physician of the Diet Therapy and Medicinal Cuisine Clinic at Nanjing Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, explains that after the Autumnal Equinox, watermelon gradually becomes an out-of-season fruit. After the Autumnal Equinox, the weather gradually cools, the body's digestive function declines, and the intestines' resistance to disease weakens, making the gastrointestinal tract very sensitive to cold stimulation. Eating too much cold watermelon can easily trigger gastrointestinal diseases or worsen existing stomach problems. Therefore, during "nibbling on autumn," one shouldn't eat as much iced watermelon as in summer.
After the start of autumn, you might want to drink three soups.
With the arrival of the Autumnal Equinox, the weather gradually becomes drier. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that dryness is most likely to damage the lungs. Therefore, interested readers may wish to try the Autumnal Equinox Three Soup Recipes recommended by Wang Dongxu, Deputy Chief Physician of Nanjing Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, which can help moisturize the lungs and reduce internal heat.
Lotus seed and lily bulb soup
Preparation and Benefits: 15g lotus seeds, 15g dried lily bulbs, 1 egg, and sugar to taste. Remove the cores from the lotus seeds and place them in a clay pot with the lily bulbs. Add enough water to cover and simmer over low heat until the lotus seeds are tender. Then add the egg and sugar. Once the egg is cooked, it is ready to eat. This dish can nourish the spleen and stomach, moisten the lungs, and calm the mind.
Snow pear and white fungus soup
Preparation and Benefits: 1 pear, 30g soaked white fungus, 5g fritillaria bulb, and appropriate amount of white sugar. Remove the roots and impurities from the soaked white fungus, wash it clean, and tear it into small pieces; peel and core the pear, and cut it into several pieces. Place the white fungus pieces, pear pieces, fritillaria bulb, and white sugar in a stewing dish and steam for 30-40 minutes. Remove and serve. This soup nourishes yin, clears the lungs, eliminates phlegm, and reduces internal heat.
Sesame and wood ear mushroom soup
Preparation and effects: Roast about 10 grams of black sesame seeds until cooked, then place them in a pot with soaked wood ear mushrooms in warm water. Add water and simmer. Add a little sugar if desired. Consume in several portions. Sesame seeds have excellent moisturizing properties, especially suitable for those with constipation.
