[Iron for the Summer]
Did you know that summer is a season when we need to be particularly mindful of anemia? Perhaps due to the recent days of sweltering and humid weather, I had been experiencing dizziness, physical sluggishness, and days where fatigue lingered even after a full night's sleep. I initially thought it might just be summer fatigue, but upon looking into it, it turns out the symptoms strongly overlap with those of anemia.
When we sweat, not only water and salt are lost from the body, but iron as well. Iron is an essential nutrient required to produce blood and transport oxygen throughout the entire body. During hot periods, iron levels can become deficient, leading to "iron deficiency anemia," or what is commonly known as "hidden summer anemia." When appetite drops due to anemia, a vicious cycle is created where nutritional deficiency further worsens the condition. Therefore, to make it through the summer in good health, I decided to review my daily diet.
When thinking of iron-rich foods, spinach, lean meats, and fish usually come to mind, but iron is also found in soy products like tofu and in kiriboshi daikon (sun-dried daikon radish strips). Sun-drying daikon is said to concentrate its nutrients. Among iron-rich foods, clams and seaweed are favorites of mine, so I incorporated them as ingredients in my daily miso soup. Even on hot days when my appetite is lacking, taking a sip of warm miso soup brings a sense of relief. When removing grit from fresh clams feels too troublesome, I use canned boiled clams to make pasta with tomatoes or add a seaweed salad to the table. I believe the key is to continue without strain and in a casual manner.
To absorb iron efficiently, it is also important to consume it together with vitamin C and protein. This can be done by preparing spinach as a shiraae (mashed tofu dressing) salad, or adding fried tofu and regular tofu to miso soup and stir-fries. Ultimately, I re-recognized that traditional Japanese cuisine, which has been cherished for ages, is a reliable ally for managing physical health during the hot season.
Another thing I reviewed was my choice of beverages. I replaced the iced coffee I used to drink in large quantities every day with barley tea, black soybean tea, and corn silk tea. Since caffeine can sometimes hinder the absorption of iron, I am now a bit more mindful of how I pair my drinks with meals.
How did people in eras without air conditioners or electric fans manage to get through the summer? Traditional ingenuity for seeking coolness, such as sprinkling water on the ground (uchimizu), wind chimes (furin), and round fans (uchiwa), still remains today, but amid the severe heat of recent years, getting through summer with just those methods has become difficult. Precisely for this reason, I want to skillfully incorporate the power of "food" and "tools" that have naturally blended into daily life since ancient times into our modern lifestyles.
For example, boiling water for white water (sayu) using an iron kettle (tetsubin) or using an iron pot for cooking are ways to do this. Iron dissolving from ironware is easily absorbed by the body, allowing for effortless iron replenishment. The frying pan and onigiri grilling pan by Rikucho Ogasawara, exhibited at the Otaru Showroom, are also Nanbu ironware pieces characterized by their simple beauty. The frying pan is of a moderate size, making it a handy item for everyday cooking such as deep-frying or making omelets.
By skillfully adopting wisdom passed down from the past, I hope we can cheerfully make it through the remaining hot summer days. Our showroom features a collection of cookware that makes everyday life enjoyable and enriching. When you are in the neighborhood, please do drop by and take a look at the showroom.
Rikucho Ogasawara's Tetsubin
https://www.shokunin.com/en/rikucho/tetsubin.html
Rikucho Ogasawara's Frying Pan
https://www.shokunin.com/en/rikucho/fryingpan.html
Rikucho Ogasawara's Onigiri Iron Plate
https://www.shokunin.com/en/rikucho/onigiri.html
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/
References
https://www.nicho.co.jp/column/20230703_c1/
https://www.otsuka.co.jp/college/nutrients/iron.html
