The dog days, also called Sanfutian in Chinese, refer to the hottest and most humid days of the year. This hottest period can be different from year to year. It starts in July and lasts for about 30 to 40 days. It has three stages: Chufu. Zhongfu and Mofu. Zhongfu is usually the hottest of the three.
Because of the high temperatures, people may feel uncomfortable and have a poor appetite (胃口). Some even get sick from eating too many cold foods.
To stay healthy, it is important to choose the proper foods during the dog days. Foods which are easy to digest (消化) and full of protein (蛋白质), are good choices, such as various vegetables, chicken, eggs and peanuts. It's better not to eat uncooked, cold or spicy foods. Besides choosing the proper foods, the taste of a dish is also important. Sour taste can improve the appetite and bitter taste makes people feel refreshed.
As a saying goes, "Eating a chicken at the beginning of the dog days will keep you healthy for a whole year." Therefore, as soon as the dog days arrive, it will be better for you to choose proper foods to keep healthy.