In modern society, the widespread use of air conditioners and refrigerators has led people to prefer staying in air-conditioned rooms for work and life, resulting in an increasing number of individuals with excessive dampness in their bodies. The most significant harm caused by excessive dampness is obesity, as excessive internal dampness makes it easier for subcutaneous tissue to accumulate fat, which is difficult for the body to utilize under normal circumstances. Therefore, obesity caused by excessive dampness is the hardest to adjust. The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year, when yang energy is vigorous, and the cold energy within the body is easily expelled; this period is also the golden time for dispelling dampness.
The natural “dampness eliminator” has been found; eating it regularly during the dog days helps to expel dampness and shed excess weight.
1. Chili Peppers
Chili peppers have high nutritional value, containing rich ingredients such as protein, carotene, and vitamins. Due to the spicy flavor, eating chili peppers can open up pores and expand capillaries, making one feel very hot. Thus, consuming chili peppers has a significant effect on eliminating dampness. However, it is important to pay attention to the quantity, as the heat of the summer makes it easy to get overheated and constipated if consumed in large amounts.
2. Yam
Excessive dampness in the body is mainly due to poor spleen health. Properly nourishing the spleen can effectively eliminate dampness. Yam has the effect of strengthening and nourishing the spleen. Cooking yam into soup not only tastes good but also achieves the effect of nourishing the spleen and eliminating dampness.
3. Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and other nutrients. It has strong heat-clearing, fire-reducing, and dampness-eliminating diuretic effects. Therefore, regularly consuming bitter melon is beneficial for the body, helping to lower blood sugar and pressure, and aids in weight loss. Don’t reject it just because of its bitterness!
4. Winter Melon and Job’s Tears Soup
Winter melon is a common vegetable with significant medicinal properties, such as diuretic effects and treating ascites. It can be combined with Job’s tears to cook soup, which is effective for conditions like edema, obesity, difficulty urinating, and acne caused by dampness.
5. Ginger in Vinegar
Ginger soaked in vinegar is crispy and refreshing, stimulating appetite. Eating 2 to 4 slices of fresh ginger daily can strengthen the spleen and stomach, dispel cold dampness, and help the body eliminate dampness and lose weight.
6. Garlic
Garlic is a great ingredient for eliminating dampness due to its dispersive effects. In addition, garlic has strong antibacterial and disinfecting properties. Soaking garlic in vinegar not only reduces the irritability caused by garlic but also promotes the production of garlic enzymes, enhancing cellular activity in the body. Consuming it with vinegar can effectively assist in dispelling dampness.
7. Dandelion Tea
Dandelion can resolve food toxicity, disperse stagnant energy, clear heat toxins, and reduce swellings and tumors. Dandelion is particularly good at dispelling damp heat, having the effect of relieving fire, eliminating dampness, and promoting diuresis. It can improve problems such as nausea and yellow tongue coating caused by damp heat, and it is effective against acne caused by damp heat.
8. Daylily
Daylily is known for its benefits on eyesight and calming the mind, and it is very effective for insomnia and lactation issues. For women with excessive dampness or those looking to prevent dampness from invading, regularly consuming daylily is excellent for regulating digestion and endocrine absorption. It can eliminate damp toxins and reduce excess fat.
