Dampness is considered the root of all evils, posing a potential threat to human health. It is not generated out of nowhere, but mainly accumulates in the body due to improper diet, specifically excessive intake of certain foods, thus affecting the quality of life and physical health of modern individuals. Therefore, understanding and avoiding foods that may exacerbate dampness is particularly important.
To determine if there is an excessive amount of dampness in the body, one can observe the following signs: thickening and whitening of the tongue coating, morning fatigue, greasy skin, sticky stools, prominent dark circles under the eyes, itchy skin, fluctuating appetite, especially weight gain, particularly abdominal fat accumulation, poor mental state, and easy fatigue. Presence of these symptoms indicates that dampness has reached a high level. However, even if one is currently not affected by it, one should be cautious of the following types of “dampness promoters” in food to prevent a silent increase in internal dampness.
Firstly, fried foods such as fried skewers, fried chicken, and fried dough sticks are rich in fats and high in calories, not only promoting weight gain but also leading to a constitution tending towards damp-heat, manifesting as both dampness and susceptibility to internal heat.
Secondly, raw and cold food items, including ice cream, cold drinks, etc., can easily create a mixture of cold and dampness in the body. Frequent consumption beyond the body’s ability to dispel cold and dampness leads to dampness accumulation.
In addition, certain high-sugar or cooling fruits like mangoes, dragon fruits, pineapples, watermelons, etc., are beneficial in moderation, but excessive consumption may induce internal damp-heat, hindering the elimination of dampness.
Summer fatigue is already common, but adding dampness issues will make it even more uncomfortable. Therefore, if symptoms of heavy dampness appear, reduce the intake of the aforementioned foods and take measures to actively remove dampness.
Methods to remove dampness include soaking feet with warm peppers or ginger to promote blood circulation and metabolism, speeding up the elimination of dampness; or drinking a tea mix of hawthorn and cassia seeds to help digest fats, promote diuresis, and effectively relieve dampness.
Given that dampness often stems from poor dietary habits, controlling diet is crucial. Simultaneously, maintaining warmth, getting sufficient sleep, exercising regularly, having a balanced diet, and cultivating a healthy lifestyle are key to achieving a body free of dampness and feeling light.
