Feeling Hot? Why You Should Eat Cooked Meals Even in Summer

Many nutritionists advise against eating 'heavy' meals in summer - but is it really applicable to everyone? A recent study examined the link between the foods we consume in summer, often light and uncooked dishes, and the brain's health and proper functioning - and returned with facts worth considering.

In Chinese medicine, great importance is placed on the foods we consume, even in summer. According to this view, cold foods, which we tend to eat more in the summer, significantly weaken our immune system and more.

"No matter how you look at it, a hot meal brings sanity back to the mind. It kind of tells it to keep functioning, even when it's already tired," say the advocates of this approach. "Hot food not only gives a fuller sense of satiety compared to cold food, but it also gives the brain a feeling of having energy."

They further explain that cold foods tire us more and often make us feel hungrier. So, what is recommended to eat in summer according to Chinese medicine? Cooked vegetables and legumes in one pot, with warming spices such as ginger, black pepper, and cinnamon. Drinking tea (yes, even if you're hot) - such as mint, chamomile, and lemon verbena. If you eat a cooked meal, it's preferable not to include much meat in it.