Eating healthy is essential for a healthy body. Unhealthy eating habits can also affect physical health. Factors like excessive dampness are closely related to diet. The spleen in the human body can transform dampness and expel it promptly. However, if one consumes foods that are harmful to the spleen over an extended period, dampness cannot be expelled effectively, leading to its accumulation in the body, which can have certain impacts on one’s health. Therefore, when it comes to diet, it is crucial to avoid certain foods that can aggravate dampness. So, what foods should be avoided to prevent worsening dampness?
Is excess dampness caused by diet? Which foods can worsen dampness when consumed in large quantities?
1. Frozen Foods
To reduce internal dampness, it is not advisable to consume a lot of frozen foods such as ice-cold beverages and ice cream. Overconsumption of these foods can stimulate the spleen and stomach, leading to spleen and stomach weakness, decreased functionality, and the inability to expel dampness effectively, resulting in dampness accumulation and exacerbation. Especially in the summer, people tend to enjoy cold foods and drinks to cool off, but this can be detrimental to spleen and stomach health. It is important to consume them in moderation.
2. Cold-Natured Foods
Cold-natured foods can help clear heat and detoxify, aiding in the treatment of heat-related conditions. However, excessively cold-natured foods can be irritating. If one’s spleen and stomach are weak or have issues, excessive intake of cold-natured foods should be avoided to prevent overstimulation of the spleen and stomach, which can reduce its ability to transform dampness. It is recommended to opt for mildly warm and light foods in diet.
3. Greasy Foods
Greasy foods generally contain high levels of fat and cholesterol, which can affect appetite and increase the stomach’s workload. If one already has poor spleen and stomach function and consumes greasy and hard-to-digest foods, the functionality of the spleen and stomach deteriorates further. This leads to improper elimination of water from the body, resulting in increased dampness. Moreover, in traditional Chinese medicine, meat is believed to produce phlegm dampness. Therefore, to reduce internal dampness, it is advisable to limit the consumption of heavy, greasy foods like barbecue, braised dishes, and hotpot, and opt for easily digestible foods for better nutrition.
To enhance spleen and stomach function, improve internal dampness, and adjust diet properly, it is necessary to avoid excessive consumption of frozen foods, cold-natured foods, and greasy foods. Otherwise, it may impair spleen and stomach function, worsening dampness.
Furthermore, it is essential to cultivate good lifestyle habits. Avoid staying up late as it can harm the body by disrupting the rest that various organs, including the spleen, stomach, and kidneys, need. Prolonged overwork of these organs can negatively impact their functions. Regular physical activity is also crucial to promote the smooth circulation of qi and blood, aid in expelling excess body fluids, and improve dampness issues.
