夏日炎炎，盖被子实在太难了。全盖热得慌，不盖怕生病。但不管怎么样，盖被子的底线是把肚子遮住。话题#中国人骨子里的盖被子基因#也登上热搜。
In Chinese culture, there is a deep-rooted belief that even the healthiest individuals should never leave their belly button uncovered. This curious tradition has garnered significant attention online.
中国人相信，身体再棒的人，不盖肚脐也会窜稀。不少网友在评论区纷纷变身“肚脐卫士”，表示就算热死，肚脐也得盖。有网友留言，就算漂流到孤岛没衣服穿，也得拿片落叶遮住肚脐。
Many assert that, regardless of the scorching heat, they must protect their belly buttons at all costs. Some even playfully claim that if stranded on a deserted island without any clothing, they would still find a way to shield their belly buttons, even if it means using a simple leaf.
还有博主产生奇思妙想：为什么我们的被子不能设计成下图这样？
中国人对肚脐的保护世世代代向下传承，肚脐到底有什么奥妙？不盖肚子真的容易生病吗？
肚脐的脆弱性
本质上，肚脐是一个伤疤。在胚胎阶段，胎儿依靠脐带连接母体，获取氧气和营养维系生命。出生后，医生会把脐带剪断，把肚皮上留下的那截脐带扎起来，待脐带残端坏死、脱落（一般7天后），周围的组织慢慢长起来，肚脐就出现了。
Your belly button (the navel) is simply a scar or remnant of the umbilical cord that connected you to your mother. The umbilical cord provides oxygen and nutrition to a baby during pregnancy, and it is cut and removed after birth, leaving a scar.
腹部横切解剖图
作为在胚胎发育过程中腹壁最后的闭合点，肚脐的表皮角质最薄，屏障功能最弱，且皮下无肌肉和脂肪组织。再加上肚脐紧邻丰富的神经末梢和神经丛，因此对外部刺激特别敏感，是人体的相对“虚弱”之地，需重点保护。
As the final closing point of the abdominal wall during embryonic development, the skin over the belly button has the thinnest epidermal layer and the weakest barrier function. Moreover, there are no muscles or fat tissues underneath. Additionally, it is in close proximity to abundant nerve endings and nerve plexus, making it particularly sensitive to external stimuli and a relatively vulnerable area in the human body, requiring special protection.
所以中国人如此谨慎地保护肚脐是非常科学的。肚脐部位最怕风寒入侵，即使是炎热的夏季也有受凉的风险。若不注意腹部保暖，用空调、风扇直对着肚脐吹，寒气很容易通过肚脐进入人体，导致拉肚子、腹泻等，女性还有可能痛经。
Therefore, it is scientifically sound for Chinese people to be cautious about protecting the belly button. The belly button area is especially susceptible to the invasion of cold winds, even in the hot summer, there is a risk of catching a cold. If one doesn't pay attention to keeping the abdomen warm and exposes the belly button directly to air conditioning or fans, the cold air can easily enter the body through the belly button, leading to diarrhea, stomach upset, and for women, even painful menstruation.
我们睡觉之所以不由自主盖上肚脐，除了保护身体健康之外，还有一个隐藏原因——盖上被子睡觉更香。
美国睡眠基金会（sleep foundation）曾发表一篇文章称，睡觉时在身上盖上一条厚被子，有助于减轻压力，促进平静，提高睡眠质量。躺在厚被子里就像被拥抱着，或是像婴儿在襁褓中一样。轻柔而温暖的压力有助于减轻疲倦，改善失眠者、焦虑者或是自闭症患者的睡眠。
Many people find that adding a weighted blanket to their sleep routine helps to reduce stress and promote calm. In the same way as a hug or a baby's swaddle, the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket may help ease symptoms and improve sleep for people with insomnia, anxiety, or autism.
夏天如何科学盖被子
如何科学盖被子？北京中医药大学中医学院教授、主任医师王彤表示，两个部位要盖好。
肚脐。肚脐处有中医的一个重要穴位——神阙穴，它最怕风寒入侵。神阙穴连结十二经脉、五脏六腑，具有温通经络、和胃理肠、培元固本的功效，可扶阳补虚。同时，肚脐位处人体中焦（脾胃），是全身气机升降的枢纽，保证此处的温煦有利于气机运行，百脉通畅，是脾胃正常运化的基础。平时睡前揉肚脐能达到保健效果，具体方法是：仰卧，两手掌重叠放在肚脐上，按照逆时针、顺时针方向各按揉100圈。
脚。“寒则凝、凝则滞、滞则瘀”，寒乃万病之源。中医讲，脚是经络循行的起始点，“寒从足下生”，寒会顺着脚从下往上走，因此必须重视脚部的保暖。有些人晚上喜欢踢被子，不妨睡觉时穿一双宽松的袜子。但需要提醒，阴虚有内热的人群，睡觉时不适合穿袜子。
The practice of covering the belly and keeping the feet warm when sleeping is suggested to keep healthy according to traditional Chinese medicine.
睡觉时别贪凉，记得乖乖把肚子盖上哦！
编辑：朱迪齐
实习生：贺子怡
来源：生命时报 新德里电视台 美国睡眠基金会 美国医药网