The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. This year, the Start of Autumn, the 13th solar term of the year, begins on Aug 7.

The Start of Autumn reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The fruitful season is approaching.

As autumn begins, it will become less humid and conditions will become much drier. Here are some foods recommended by Chinese traditional medicine doctor Wang Dongxu to keep you in good health through the changing season.

A soup made with lotus seed and lily bulb, a braised white fungus soup with pear and an agaric soup with sesame can all help to keep you hydrated and decrease internal heat during the hot period.

Eggplants

Fresh, ripe eggplants in autumn boast a special flavor. The vegetable contains micro-elements and rich vitamins such as vitamin P, which can help maintain cardiovascular health.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are full of water so keep you hydrated and can offer people a sense of satiety. Regularly eating the vegetable can also help to reduce the risk of cancer.

Red beans

Ever since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279), people in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, have eaten red beans on the Start of Autumn. They take seven to 14 little beans, swallowing them with well water. When consuming the beans, it's said that one must face west. By doing so, it's said one can avoid dysentery throughout the whole season.