Early spring's "back south" weather has arrived in full force, with ground and walls covered in "tears," creating a damp and uncomfortable sensation that chills you to the bone. In a humid environment, one can suffer internal harm and become a "damp person," exhibiting "dampness overload" symptoms such as body fatigue, chest tightness, diarrhea, and poor appetite. "Damp people" are also prone to eczema and joint pain. More unpredictably, dampness can lie dormant in the body for a long time, only to emerge and cause trouble when conditions are right, triggering the recurrence of chronic illnesses.
Experts explain that the humid and muggy "back south" weather is considered "dampness evil" in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which can invade the body through the skin. In fact, this kind of hot and humid weather is common in the Lingnan region. Consequently, the Cantonese diet has many taboos; for instance, the aversion to spicy foods to avoid "internal heat" is related to this climate. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; "damp people" must indeed be mindful of their diet to expel dampness.
Don't be a "damp person": eat less tropical fruit, often eat corn for dampness removal
So-called "dampness-evil foods" refer to those that, after being eaten, cause "internal dampness" and lead to various discomforts, such as bloating and pain, a bitter taste in the mouth, poor appetite, and heavy limbs. Many tropical fruits like jackfruit, durian, and mango are considered dampness-promoting foods. During the "back south" period with heavy humidity, it's best not to eat too much of them, especially when you clearly feel the discomfort caused by the environmental dampness. Lin Yanzhao says that seafood like shrimp and crab also promote dampness. If you want to satisfy a craving, it's better not to eat them at this time. Instead, you can opt for aquatic products with dampness-removing properties like carp or crucian carp.
Cantonese people love making soups and congee. It is recommended to add ingredients like corn, Job's tears, fox nut, and hyacinth bean to these dishes, as these ingredients have dampness-removing effects. Recommended recipes include: Corn and Pork Rib Soup, Old Duck with Winter Melon Concoction, and Job's Tears and Hyacinth Bean Mixed Grain Porridge. You can flexibly add these to your recipes.
During the "back south" period, everyone hopes for sunshine. When the sun is out, seize the opportunity to sunbathe, and to dry your towels and bedding. Use ultraviolet rays to prevent your mood, body, and environment from "getting moldy," which is also a great法宝 (treasure) for removing dampness.
Dehumidifying Mistake: Can Eating Ginger Expel Dampness?
When the weather is humid, some believe that one should use spicy foods to drive out internal dampness, increasing the intake of pungent and warm things like ginger, garlic, and chili in their diet. This is incorrect.
Experts point out that expelling cold is not the same as removing dampness. The corn, hyacinth beans, Job's tears, and fox nut recommended earlier have a relatively mild nature for removing dampness and are suitable for people of any constitution. The Lingnan region has a predominantly hot and humid climate, so regardless of whether it's the "back south" period, these ingredients can be added. However, choosing warm-toned foods like ginger and garlic depends on one's constitution. If you have a "cold constitution" and often suffer from diarrhea and a fear of cold, you can consume more of them to achieve the effect of removing dampness and expelling cold. If you have a "hot constitution" with a lot of internal "heat," eating "heat-inducing" foods will instead increase the body's dampness-evil qi. In addition to choosing the aforementioned neutral-natured foods, you can also use Smilax glabra to make a soup, a "cool soup" that effectively removes dampness.