大和健康资讯 第203期（2020年7月）

This Month's Topics

■ Latest Information from Yamato Pharmaceuticals

◎ Conducted a BioBran Web Seminar (Bangladesh)

■ Infectious Diseases and Immunity Series

3) Colds, Smallpox, SARS, MERS, and Variant Coronaviruses

Dr. Yuzo Endo (Department of Pathology I, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine)

This time, while looking back on the history of infectious disease treatment, we will discuss colds, smallpox, SARS, and MERS from the perspective of immunity.

■ World Health Report

Do Teens with Overbearing Parents Struggle as Adults?

Research by Emily Loeb and colleagues at the University of Virginia reports that teens who feel their parents are overbearing are less likely to develop independence and more likely to have difficulty forming romantic relationships as adults. This time, we will introduce the latest U.S. research on tips for interacting with teenage children.

■ Health Trivia: Traditional Insights for Modern Health

126) Protect Your Kidneys and Prevent Dementia! (3)

In 2013, it was reported in the UK that dementia decreased by 20–30% across all age groups over 75, said to be the result of nationwide efforts such as reducing salt intake and preventing smoking. In our 157th public lecture on gerontology and geriatrics titled 'Protect Your Kidneys and Prevent Dementia!' presented in three parts, this third installment features a lecture by Dr. Kazumasa Harada (Vice Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology) titled 'Atrial Fibrillation and Dementia.'

Seasonal Foods and Health

Great Heat and Cucumbers

The season of intense sunlight and severe heat has arrived. From late July to early August, this period is called 'Great Heat' in the traditional 24 solar terms. Nowadays, we can easily cool down with air conditioning, but traditionally, Japanese people have enjoyed the cool sound of wind chimes hung under eaves, used blinds on windows to block the hot sun, and sprinkled water in gardens or at entrances, enduring the heat through various means. These practices not only have practical value for surviving the humid summer but also reflect the rich sensibility of the Japanese, who have lived in harmony with nature and found pleasure in coolness amid heat. Additionally, food culture includes various health-preserving practices, such as chilled sweet sake and grilled eel during the midsummer period.

This time, we will talk about cucumbers, a classic seasonal ingredient. Cucumbers were brought to Japan from the Korean Peninsula under the name 'huanggua,' and their name appears in documents from the Tenpyō period. They are mostly water and might seem nutritionally insignificant, but this abundant water content makes them perfect for summer. As described in the Chinese medicinal book 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' cucumbers 'cool heat, quench thirst, and promote urination,' helping to remove excess heat in the body and relieve summer-induced loss of appetite. With their thirst-quenching and body-moisturizing effects, along with high potassium content that helps eliminate excess fluids, cucumbers are ideal for Japan’s humid summer where the body tends to retain water. Common ways to eat them include raw with miso or salt, pickled, or in vinegar dishes. A refreshing side dish for hot days is 'Cucumber and Nagaimo with Plum Paste,' made by lightly pounding cucumbers, rubbing with salt, and mixing with nagaimo and plum paste. Another dish, 'Spicy Stir-Fried Cucumber and Beef,' seasoned with oyster sauce or doubanjiang, is perfect for replenishing stamina with hearty food. Please try cucumbers in various ways!

The next issue of 'e-Health Kawaraban' is scheduled for distribution around August 25.