What traditional Chinese medicine refers to as “dampness” is the root of many illnesses, especially during summer when the body’s dampness is more pronounced. The three periods of extreme summer heat (San Fu Tian) provide the best opportunity in a year to rid the body of damp heat and dispel cold toxins. For individuals with a heavy internal dampness, it is essential to make good use of this period to detoxify the body and expel the dampness. So how can this be done specifically? Dietary adjustments are the priority. Let me first talk about foods that people with excessive dampness should avoid consuming. The following three types of food, when consumed in excess, can worsen dampness, so it is crucial to pay attention to them.
1. Reduce consumption of raw and cold foods
During the scorching summer days, many people tend to enjoy consuming icy cold foods, which can be detrimental to those with pre-existing heavy internal dampness. Indulging in such foods is like adding fuel to the fire for those individuals because raw and cold foods inherently contain a lot of dampness. Excessive consumption weakens the normal functioning of the spleen and stomach, leading to poor digestion, decreased appetite, and ultimately worsening internal dampness, making it challenging to expel. Therefore, foods like chilled beverages, watermelon, bitter melon, and crabs, which are considered cold foods, should be consumed sparingly.
2. Limit consumption of oily and greasy foods
People with excessive dampness typically have a weak spleen and stomach, leading to poor digestion. Consuming large amounts of oily and greasy foods can exacerbate internal dampness, further affecting the spleen and stomach functions, causing qi stagnation and blood stasis. Both dampness and toxins cannot be efficiently expelled, leading to a vicious cycle. Therefore, individuals with heavy internal dampness should reduce the intake of fatty meats, fried chicken, barbecue, and similar foods.
3. Limit consumption of overly sweet foods
Excessively sweet foods can promote the accumulation of damp toxins in the body, making dampness more severe. Overindulging in sweet foods is also detrimental to one’s diet, particularly increasing the body’s fat content, hindering the elimination of dampness. Therefore, individuals with already significant dampness should restrict their consumption of desserts like cream cakes, glutinous rice, mooncakes, chocolates, and other sweets.
Above are the foods that people with excessive dampness should limit in their diets. So, which foods are beneficial for dispelling dampness and detoxifying the body? Here, I will continue to share four types of foods.
1. Vinegar-Soaked Ginger
There is an old saying, “Eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer,” making summer the perfect season for ginger consumption to dispel dampness. Vinegar-soaked ginger has excellent health benefits by regulating the spleen and stomach functions, helping normalize digestion and effectively expel dampness from the body.
The specific method is taking a piece of ginger (preferably fresh ginger) and a bottle of rice or aged vinegar. Slice the ginger, place the slices in a jar, pour the vinegar until the ginger is completely submerged. Cover the jar opening with plastic wrap, seal it, and store it in the refrigerator. After a week, it will be ready to eat. Consume 2-4 slices daily.
2. Adzuki Bean and Coix Seed Tea
The combination of adzuki beans and coix seeds is a classic dampness-removing pairing commonly used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Coix seeds have diuretic, spleen-strengthening, and heat-clearing effects, while adzuki beans help promote diuresis, reduce swelling, and strengthen the spleen and stomach. Brewing them together as a porridge or tea has a strong dampness-removing effect. Many people have stubborn belly fat that is difficult to reduce, often associated with dampness. Therefore, regular consumption of adzuki bean and coix seed tea not only dispels dampness but also helps reduce belly fat.
3. Corn Silk
Corn is a common agricultural crop, and many people discard the corn silk after eating corn. Little do they know that corn silk is an excellent medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine, also known as dragon beard. Corn silk can be soaked in water and consumed as a tea, primarily serving as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and aiding in the treatment of diabetes. Individuals with heavy internal dampness may consider regularly consuming corn silk.
4. Job’s Tears
Job’s Tears, known as the “ginseng in water,” or “chicken head rice,” is recognized for its multiple benefits, including tonifying the middle, benefiting qi, strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, detoxification, and dispelling dampness. Due to the hot weather, internal dampness can worsen, leading to damage to the spleen and stomach. Regular consumption of Job’s Tears in porridge can effectively eliminate dampness, regulate the spleen and stomach. Individuals with excessive internal dampness may consider regular consumption.
