Nourish Your Spleen This Summer: 4 Digestive-Boosting Soups to Strengthen Your Body and Beat the Heat

Summer wellness hinges on supporting our spleen and stomach, helping them function smoothly through the season’s challenges. A warm, comforting bowl of soup serves as nature’s gentle remedy against damp heat and fatigue. Below are four easy-to-make, spleen-nourishing soups featuring everyday ingredients. These recipes aid digestion, fortify your constitution, and help you thrive even on the stickiest summer days!

I. Vegetable Drop Soup

Soothes digestion, packed with fiber and vitamins

Ingredients:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 ripe tomato

• 1 large egg

• 1 handful spinach

• 4–5 shiitake or button mushrooms

• Salt to taste

• ½ tsp sesame oil

Instructions:

1. Prepare dough droplets: Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add cold water while stirring rapidly with chopsticks or a fork until tiny, pea-sized dough clumps form.

2. Prep vegetables: Blanch tomato to peel (optional), then dice. Rinse spinach and mushrooms; chop finely. Beat the egg lightly.

3. Cook base: Heat 1 tsp oil in a pot. Sauté tomatoes until soft and jammy. Pour in 4 cups water; bring to a boil.

4. Add dough: Once boiling, sprinkle dough droplets evenly into the pot. Stir gently to prevent sticking.

5. Simmer: When droplets float (∼3 mins), add mushrooms. Cook 2 more minutes.

6. Finish: Swirl in beaten egg to form ribbons. Add spinach; cook 30 seconds until wilted. Season with salt and sesame oil.

Why it works: Tender dough droplets pair with tangy tomatoes for appetite stimulation. Spinach and mushrooms deliver gut-friendly fiber and B vitamins, while eggs boost protein. Light yet satisfying, this soup combats summer lethargy.

II. Spinach, Tofu & Mushroom Clear Soup

Cleanses toxins, cools the body, rich in plant protein

Ingredients:

• 150g silken tofu (½ block)

• 1 large handful spinach

• 5–6 shiitake mushrooms

• 2 thin ginger slices

• Salt to taste

• ½ tsp sesame oil

Instructions:

1. Prep: Cube tofu. Rinse spinach and mushrooms. Slice ginger.

2. Simmer broth: Bring 4 cups water and ginger to a boil in a pot.

3. Cook tofu/mushrooms: Add tofu and mushrooms; simmer 5 mins over medium heat.

4. Add greens: Stir in spinach; cook just until wilted (∼1 min).

5. Season: Turn off heat. Add salt and sesame oil.

Benefits: Spinach offers iron and fiber, tofu provides cooling plant protein, and mushrooms enhance immunity. This light, detoxifying soup relieves digestive sluggishness and heavy "damp-heat" fatigue.

III. Duck & Winter Melon Soup

Eliminates dampness, replenishes without overheating

Ingredients:

• 300g duck meat (thigh or breast, bone-in)

• 500g winter melon

• 2 tbsp barley (optional, for dampness removal)

• 4 ginger slices

• 1 tbsp cooking wine

• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Blanch duck: Submerge duck in cold water with 2 ginger slices and cooking wine. Boil 3 mins; drain and rinse.

2. Simmer broth: Place duck, 6 cups hot water, remaining ginger, and barley (if using) in a pot. Boil, then reduce to low heat; simmer 40 mins until tender.

3. Add melon: Peel and cube winter melon; discard seeds. Add to pot; cook 15–20 mins until translucent.

4. Season: Salt to taste.

Key perks: Winter melon is a superstar diuretic that expels summer dampness. Duck—cooling and nourishing—prevents internal heat buildup, making it ideal for warm-weather protein.

IV. Pork Liver & Spinach Soup

Replenishes blood, fights fatigue

Ingredients:

• 150g pork liver

• 1 handful spinach

• 3 ginger slices

• 1 tsp cooking wine

• 1 tsp cornstarch

• Salt and white pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prep liver: Thinly slice liver; rinse under cold water until pale. Drain. Marinate with cooking wine, ¼ tsp salt, and cornstarch for 10 mins.

2. Blanch: Boil 4 cups water with ginger. Reduce to a gentle simmer. Add liver slices one by one; cook 1 min until just firm.

3. Finish: Add spinach; cook 30 seconds. Season with salt and a pinch of pepper.

Nutrition spotlight: Summer sweat depletes iron reserves. Pork liver delivers highly absorbable heme iron, while spinach adds folate and fiber—perfect for battling heat-induced exhaustion.

Why These Soups Shine in Summer

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views summer as a "high-dampness" season where the spleen—responsible for digestion and moisture balance—easily weakens. These soups counter this by:

• Hydrating wisely: Broths replenish fluids without diluting electrolytes.

• Cooling thermal nature: Ingredients like tofu, duck, and winter melon reduce internal heat.

• Boosting enzymatic function: Ginger and vinegar in dressings (not listed) enhance nutrient absorption.

• Gentle detox: High-fiber veggies like spinach scrub the gut, while mushrooms bind toxins.

For best results, consume these soups warm—not icy—to avoid shocking the digestive system. Pair with steamed grains (e.g., rice or millet) for balanced nutrition.

Embrace a Lighter, Energetic Summer

Integrate these soups into your weekly routine. Within weeks, you’ll notice smoother digestion, reduced bloating, and sustained vitality. They’re especially helpful when humidity soars or post-outdoor activities. Save these recipes—your spleen (and taste buds!) will thank you all season long. Stay cool, nourished, and radiant!

Note: Consult a TCM practitioner if experiencing severe digestive issues. Recipes serve 2–3.