From “What You Eat” to “How You Live,” and “What You Feel”—Protect Your Health This Summer Inside and Out
Summer always comes with a bit of contradiction. The sun is vibrant, life feels more exciting, yet the heat, lack of appetite, and fatigue are constant companions. Many people rely on cold drinks, air conditioning, and ice cream to “beat” the summer, assuming that cooling down is all that matters.
But we believe that what truly helps us get through the summer comfortably isn’t fleeting coolness—it’s the little details in everyday life that are thoughtfully managed.
From what we eat, to how our bodies feel, to our emotional state—these are what really matter when coexisting with summer.
Let BROTH be your companion in this battle against the summer heat—from what enters your mouth, to what nourishes your body, and finally to what soothes your heart.
1. Start With What Enters the Body: Safety, Habits, and Pairings Are the Keys to Summer Eating
A common misconception about summer is focusing only on the temperature while ignoring what we put into our mouths. In fact, “entry management” in summer has two parts: food safety and what and how we eat. Food intake is the most basic—and often most overlooked—step in facing the summer heat.
Food Safety Cannot Be Overlooked
The hot and humid summer is a high-risk season for bacterial growth. Especially for high-protein foods like meat, seafood, and soy products, any mishandling during shopping, storage, or cooking can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
When buying food, check for intact packaging and proper refrigeration. Avoid items that are swollen, leaking, or lack clear temperature instructions.
Buy refrigerated or frozen foods last and use insulated bags to bring them home as soon as possible to prevent spoilage from temperature fluctuations.
In the kitchen, separate raw and cooked food prep—use different cutting boards, knives, and containers. Especially for cooked food, don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than two hours.
Eating safely in summer is no small matter. Protecting your entry point is the most basic respect for your body.
Eating Right Is More Important Than Eating Cold
When it’s hot, many people instinctively go for iced drinks, cold dishes, and watermelon, often eating chilled meals all day. While it may seem that “cooling food = fast relief,” this is one of the biggest mistakes in summer eating.
Cold foods do provide temporary comfort. But from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, summer heat causes sweating and yang energy loss, making the digestive system more vulnerable. Consuming too much cold food weakens the spleen and stomach, hampers digestion, and leads to dampness buildup. Over time, this can lead to fatigue, bloating, and poor appetite.
What truly helps the body fight off the summer heat is a gentle, nourishing eating habit.
In the morning, start your day with a warm serving of Chicken Essence.
At lunch, incorporate ingredients that strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, like yam, coix seed, dried tangerine peel, and chayote. Simple dishes like yam soup or coix seed rice are excellent choices.
In the afternoon, instead of iced coffee or milk tea, go for warm herbal teas or chicken essence drinks. They energize without hurting your digestive system.
In the evening, have a soup or dessert that soothes dryness, like white fungus and lily soup or lotus seed and red date soup. These help restore body fluids and promote restful sleep.
Summer eating isn’t about completely avoiding cold foods—but it’s about moderation, mindfulness, and listening to your body’s rhythm. A well-nourished digestive system is the real secret to surviving the summer.
2. Nourish the Body: Maintain a Healthy Routine and Avoid Summer’s Hidden Pitfalls
The biggest thing people overlook in summer is the disruption of daily routines.
Morning heat leads to constant air-conditioning, mid-day heat drives us to iced drinks, and cooler evenings tempt us with cold desserts and barbecue. The result? Heat by day, chills by night, and a body thrown into confusion.
Many common summer ailments—cold hands and feet, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, heavy dampness, frequent colds—are often caused by poor daily habits.
First, staying in air-conditioned rooms for long hours invites cold air into the body
Simple fixes: set air conditioners to moderate temperatures, avoid direct wind, use fans and ventilation, and drink warm chicken essence or herbal teas to maintain body temperature balance.
Second, longer daylight hours tempt people to stay up late, but summer wellness is best achieved with early sleep and early rising. Sleep deprivation weakens the body and reduces mental focus.
Even a 20-minute power nap at noon can help restore yang energy.
Lastly, you can still exercise in summer—just adjust your methods and timing.
Gentle walks, yoga, and stretching are ideal. Instead of sweating profusely, focus on maintaining circulation and metabolism, and avoid sitting too long.
A stable lifestyle rhythm is essential for staying healthy during summer.
3. Calm the Mind: Inner Peace Is the Coolest Remedy
The heat of summer isn’t just on the outside—it also stirs up internal fire.
High temperatures can lead to irritability, emotional swings, reduced focus, and poor sleep—all typical emotional responses to summer.
According to TCM, summer corresponds to the heart, and excessive heat can lead to “heart fire”, which affects mood, digestion, and rest.
Emotional care doesn’t require complicated strategies. Small lifestyle changes are often the most effective.
First, regular sleep is fundamental. Avoid staying up late, make time to rest, and create breathing space for body and mind.
Second, cut down on spicy, greasy, and fried foods. Opt for calming, nourishing ingredients like chicken essence, lily root soup, and lotus seed dessert.
Lastly, if possible, get some sun in the morning or chat with a friend—simple acts that can help you release tension.
Emotions don’t just “go away”—they need to be cared for. When you start listening to your body, your mind will cool down too.
Make This Summer a Peaceful One
Beating the heat isn’t just about cooling down—it’s about feeling grounded through mindful habits. True relief comes from safe food choices, a balanced lifestyle, and emotional calm.
We hope your summer isn’t something you endure, but something you gently prepare for. May these tips be your helpful guide through the season.
This summer, BROTH is here with you—nourishing slowly, healing gently, helping you become your coolest, calmest, strongest self.
References:
- High-Protein Foods in Summer: Beware of Bacteria and Toxins. (n.d.). HSK GeneTech. https://hskgene.com/blogs/probiofirst/protein_food_spoilage?srsltid=AfmBOoqlNYtWIqdsop3IXw2c0UVH1Th3c4RqdBs5N_HOolgBSeCZEK3
- Sun, Z. (n.d.). Summer Solstice: “Taking the Heat” to Nourish the Body. Guangming Daily. https://news.gmw.cn/2025-06/21/content_38104719.htm
- Chicken Essence. (n.d.). Broth Inc. https://welovebroth.com/zh/collections/broth-滴雞精
- Spending Long Hours in A/C? Here’s What TCM Experts Say. Lianzhou Gov. http://www.lianzhou.gov.cn/zjlz/shsh/ylbj/content/post_1728968.html
