With the city's weather forecasters stating summer won't be declared until the average temperature reaches 22 C for five consecutive days, it appears we might have a while to go yet before we officially enter summer. But the latest period of the traditional Chinese agricultural solar system has already begun.

Lixia is the seventh of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms and literally means "build up to summer."

In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the human body is inextricably linked to the natural world, or "Mother Nature" as it is known. And, accordingly, the turn of the seasons has very definite effects on the human body.

For example, the summer is said to be related to the heart. Consequently, TCM doctors suggest people should take good care of their heart by consuming a low-calorie diet, getting enough sleep, maintaining a stable mood and doing moderate exercise.

Nutritional dish

Porridge is recommended by most nutritionists as an ideal dish that can be consumed for both breakfast and dinner during lixia. Supplemented by different ingredients varying from beans to herbs, a mild, low-fat porridge dish has great effects in cooling down and hydrating the body, as well as in relieving the burden on the digestive system.

Other suggested nutritious foods include tomatoes, green peppers, Chinese watermelons, cucumbers, mung beans, peaches, plums, strawberries, eggs, fish and lean meat, among others. Oily and spicy foods should be avoided for the whole season.

An interesting point of the lixia diet is that many people like to eat the hearts of animals such as chickens and ducks at this time. This is because in TCM theory, the shape and appearance of a food somewhat represents its properties. Thus, eating animal's hearts is said to be good for the heart.

With sweltering summer days ahead, people naturally prefer cold foods and iced drinks.

However, an excessive intake of such items can cause excruciating stomach aches, and in some extreme cases nausea, vomiting, dizziness and diarrhea.

So a wise way to avoid these symptoms is to warm cold foods or drinks first before consuming them, and to avoid eating too much at one sitting. And this rule is particularly applicable to the elderly, children, and those with a history of digestive disorders.

The arrival of lixia also sees longer days and shorter nights. As a natural response to these changes, most people tend to get up earlier and go to bed later than during the spring and winter.

And this may lead to a serious lack of sleep which can result in physical ailments such as headaches and lethargy. As a result, it is a good idea to take a nap around midday. A nap of between 30 to 60 minutes is advisable.

Climatic changes

As the heat of summer intensifies, the body needs to adjust to climatic changes because the energy of yang predominates, while that of yin begins to diminish. This shift between yin and yang energies in the body can adversely affect people's mood, and cause them to fret and fidget.

A good way to calm the mind is to learn how to control your temper and retain a positive outlook. Pastimes like drawing, playing chess, fishing and gardening can help people to relax and unwind during the summer.

For outdoor sports aficionados, the scorching heat can all too easily dehydrate the body. So, during lixia, it might be wiser for these people to switch to working out at the gym or to take up more gentle forms of exercise such as jogging, walking and tai chi.