The hot summer months prompt many women to start dieting. Summer's heat makes people sweat more and their metabolism faster, leading to more effective weight loss. Of course, we should take advantage of these favorable conditions. However, some people may experience a loss of appetite due to the weather and simply skip meals or opt for cold drinks. This not only fails to help with weight loss but can also harm your health. Therefore, in addition to exercise, here are three recommended weight loss recipes that are both healthy and helpful for slimming down.

　　Braised Winter Melon

　　Ingredients: Winter melon, white sugar, chicken bouillon, oyster sauce, salt, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce

　　Instructions: Peel and seed the winter melon, score the surface, and cut into cubes. Heat oil in a pan, add the winter melon cubes and fry until lightly golden brown on all sides. Push the winter melon to the side of the pan, add a little sugar to the center and stir-fry until caramelized, then stir-fry with the winter melon cubes. Add salt, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce to coat the winter melon evenly. Add a small bowl of water, stir-fry, cover, and simmer until the winter melon is cooked through. Add oyster sauce and chicken bouillon, and reduce the sauce over high heat. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.

　　Commentary: Winter melon contains malonic acid, a substance that effectively inhibits the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. Furthermore, winter melon itself contains no fat and is very low in calories, making it an excellent food for weight loss. Winter melon is rich in vitamin C and potassium, an essential trace element that helps reduce swelling and promotes urination. It is also low in sodium, which is beneficial for those with high blood pressure, kidney problems, and edema, helping to reduce swelling and lower blood pressure.

　　Five-grain rice

　　Ingredients: Brown rice, five-treasure powder, dried radish, salt, oil.

　　Instructions: Soak brown rice in water for 2 hours, add salt and oil and steam until cooked. Then sprinkle with five-treasure powder and dried radish to make the rice less bitter.

　　Commentary: Brown rice can regulate unsaturated fats, enhance intestinal motility, and prevent constipation and colon cancer. Brown rice is rich in dietary fiber, which can bind with cholesterol and promote its excretion, thus helping to lower blood lipids. Brown rice is a natural diuretic, promoting metabolism and eliminating excess nutrients and toxins from the body.

　　Job's tears and brown rice porridge

　　Ingredients: Job's tears, brown rice.

　　Instructions: Wash the brown rice and Job's tears. Pour an appropriate amount of water into a pot, add the Job's tears and brown rice, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the Job's tears and brown rice are thoroughly cooked and form a porridge. Add sugar or salt to taste.

　　Review: Job's tears are both a traditional Chinese medicine and an excellent weight-loss food. Job's tears are highly effective at reducing water retention; regularly drinking Job's tears water can help eliminate excess water from the body. Job's tears water also has beauty benefits. Brown rice has a higher nutritional content than regular white rice. It is rich in vitamins and various minerals, making it a healthy green food. The dietary fiber in brown rice can reduce fat in the lower body, achieving a slimming effect on the lower body.