As soon as we enter the dog days of summer, many people will be troubled by the "bitter summer", feeling tired and weak, and losing appetite. At this time, eating some bitter foods appropriately can have the effects of relieving fever, dispelling heat, and eliminating fatigue. Which bitter foods are both nutritious and healthy? What bitter foods may pose health risks? For this purpose, the reporter interviewed He Fan, the deputy director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Wenzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. According to He Fan's introduction, traditional Chinese medicine believes that summer belongs to fire, which corresponds to the heart of the five organs. In the hot summer, many people experience symptoms such as restlessness, constipation, yellow urine, and mouth and tongue sores caused by intense heart fire. Bitter taste enters the heart, can relieve and dry, and has the effects of clearing heat, promoting bowel movements, reducing qi, and drying dampness. Modern medicine believes that bitter foods such as bitter gourd, chrysanthemum, celery, lettuce, etc. contain alkaloids that have pharmacological effects such as cooling and clearing heat, promoting blood circulation, and relaxing blood vessels, making them natural health supplements for summer. Although bitter foods are good, it is also important to pay attention to the amount used. Eating them 2 to 3 times a week is sufficient He Fan explained that although excessively cold ingredients can clear the fire, they are prone to damage the spleen and stomach. Many people blindly "endure hardship" when they are not aware of their physical conditions. Bitter and cold can lead to a series of symptoms such as loss of appetite and diarrhea, so not everyone is suitable for "enduring hardship" in summer. Menstrual women, people with poor physical fitness, and those with spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness should be more cautious about "enduring hardships". He Fan reminds that fruits and vegetables of the Cucurbitaceae family, such as luffa, cantaloupe, cucumber, etc., under special conditions, can produce toxic substances called cucurbitacin (alkaline glycosyltoxin), which can cause a bitter taste when eaten. After ingesting cucurbitacin, the human body may experience symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, and may also be accompanied by gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney function damage, and other conditions. Therefore, if there is a bitter taste when eating fruits and vegetables such as luffa, cantaloupe, cucumber, etc., remember to rinse your mouth promptly and dispose of them decisively. (New Society)