The dry autumn weather can easily lead to lung heat and infections, causing lung-heat cough. Today, I'm recommending five foods suitable for autumn that have the effects of moistening the lungs to stop coughing, clearing heat and detoxifying, and resolving phlegm to stop coughing.
Autumn Diet: Top 5 Foods for Moistening the Lungs and Stopping Cough
1. White Radish
Food Introduction: A root vegetable, a plant of the radish genus in the Brassicaceae family. It can be eaten raw or cooked, with a slightly spicy taste. It contains glucose, sucrose, fructose, vitamin C, glucoraphenin, etc.
Lung-Moistening Principle: There is a common saying, "Radish in winter is better than ginseng." The mustard oil, amylase, and crude fiber in white radish promote digestion, enhance appetite, and help relieve cough and resolve phlegm. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, it is pungent, sweet, and cool in nature, entering the lung and stomach meridians, and can eliminate phlegm to stop cough, and treat lung flaccidity and hemoptysis.
Lung-Moistening Index: ★★★☆
Dietary Therapy Methods:
Milk Soup Stewed Radish Soup:
After adding scallions and ginger to clear water, stir-fried radish blocks and milk are added and stewed together. After it becomes tender, add salt. It is both nourishing and lung-cleansing. You can also spare-rib and radish soup regularly.
Snow Pear, Carrot, and Honey Milk Drink
2. Pomelo
Food Introduction: The mature fruit of the pomelo plant in the Rutaceae family, containing sugars, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin P, carotene, potassium, phosphorus, citric acid, etc.
Lung-Moistening Principle: Its taste is sweet and its nature is cold. It is rich in vitamin C and components similar to insulin, which can strengthen the stomach, moisten the lungs, nourish the blood, clear the intestines, and promote bowel movements.
Lung-Moistening Index: ★★★☆
Dietary Therapy Usage:
Eat directly or make pomelo tea. Pomelo is cold in nature, so do not eat too much at once; 2 to 3 segments are enough. Pomelo tea is made by slowly stewing pomelo peel (which is more spleen-strengthening for digestion, and dispels cold and dampness) with pomelo flesh. After cooling, add rock sugar, store it in the refrigerator, and take it twice a day with warm or cool water.
In addition, kumquat has a sweet and sour taste, a neutral and warm nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the lung and stomach meridians. It is sweet and moistens the lungs, whets the appetite, aids digestion, quenches thirst, and promotes fluid production. Oranges have this effect too, but the most beneficial for your health are the small kumquats sold at fruit stands, which should definitely be included in your daily fruit list.
Pomelo Tea
3. Lotus Root
Food Introduction: The enlarged underground stem of the lotus plant, slightly sweet and crisp, can be eaten raw or cooked. Its roots, leaves, flowers, stamens, and fruits can all be used for nourishment and medicine.
Lung-Moistening Principle: Lotus root enters the lung, heart, and spleen meridians. Cooked lotus root is sweet, warm, and non-toxic in nature. Eating cooked lotus root can nourish the heart and generate blood, strengthen the stomach and open the spleen, and provide nourishment and strength. Lotus root soup promotes urination, clears heat, and moistens the lungs.
Lung-Moistening Index: ★★★
Dietary Therapy Usage:
Chestnut and Lotus Root Soup:
Boil peeled small lotus root pieces and cleaned raw chestnuts in water, then simmer over medium heat for forty minutes. Season and consume after it cools slightly. You can also use lean pork or pork bones with lotus root and an appropriate amount of mung beans to make soup regularly.
Lotus Root and Chestnut Sweet Soup
4. Grapes
Food Introduction: A deciduous climbing vine, one of the oldest plants in the world. Its fruit is colorful, juicy, delicious, and nutritious. The fruit sugar content reaches 10%-30% and contains various trace elements.
Lung-Moistening Principle: The fruit acid in grapes aids digestion, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and more beneficial elements nourish the liver and kidneys, moisten the lung essence, reduce fire, and clear the intestines.
Lung-Moistening Index: ★★★
Dietary Therapy Usage:
Best eaten raw. Since grape seeds and skins have better antioxidant effects, it is highly recommended to eat them "whole," meaning don't peel them and chew the seeds before swallowing.
Easy Way to Wash Grapes
5. Almonds
Food Introduction: As the saying goes, "Radish, almond, dried ginger, and pear, cure your cough without seeing a doctor." Autumn can easily deplete body fluids due to autumn dryness, causing dry mouth, a sore throat, and pain. It is the right time to eat moistening and lung-nourishing foods like pig's lung, dried persimmon, loquat, and water chestnut. Among nuts, none is more moistening than almonds.
Lung-Moistening Principle: Almonds can moisten the lungs, clear indigestion, and dispel stagnation. Almonds are also rich in protein, trace elements, and vitamins, and have effects such as moistening the lungs, stopping coughs, and lubricating the bowels. They can help relieve symptoms like a dry cough with no phlegm or a lingering cough due to lung deficiency.
Lung-Moistening Index: ★★★
Dietary Therapy Usage:
Red Radish, Almond, and Dried Cabbage Soup
Effects: Moistens the lungs and beautifies the skin; contains dietary fiber; suitable for weight loss.
Ingredients: 20g of North and South almonds, 20g of dried cabbage, 200g of red radish, 6 pieces of honey jujube.
Method: Soak the dried cabbage until soft and cut into sections. Peel the red radish and cut into small pieces. Wash the almonds. Bring water to a boil, add all ingredients and simmer for 2 hours. Add a little rock sugar to finish. This soup is also great for reducing internal heat and clearing phlegm.
In addition, traditional Chinese medicine theory states that "the lungs govern the skin and hair." If the lungs are compromised, facial or skin problems will no longer be simple. Acne, inflammation, and dark spots may be even more prominent than in the summer. Therefore, these five excellent lung-moistening foods are especially suitable for beauty-conscious women.
Radish, Almond, and Pig's Lung Soup