Autumn has arrived, and the temperature and humidity have undergone subtle changes. Consequently, our diets should be adjusted accordingly. As autumn dryness begins, pears and water chestnuts should take center stage for combating it.
With the onset of autumn dryness, attention should be paid to diet
The "Start of Autumn" from the 24 solar terms has long passed, marking the arrival of autumn. Although Guangzhou is still in the grip of a scorching summer, temperatures are beginning to show slight variations, with the coolness in the mornings and evenings becoming increasingly noticeable. The feeling of dryness is also growing more apparent.
Professor Yang Xiaohong from the Department of Internal Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine points out that the common saying "autumn dryness" exists because "autumn retains the lingering heat of summer, hence it is often warm and dry; it also has the cold air approaching winter, hence it can sometimes be cool and dry." In reality, there's no need to rush to distinguish which type of dryness you have. As autumn arrives, many people experience dry skin and a dry mouth. The best way to prevent autumn dryness is through dietary adjustments.
Recommended: Pears are beneficial for moistening the lungs and should be eaten more
The basic dietary principle for preventing autumn dryness is to eat more vegetables, fruits, and drink plenty of water.
Among fruits, pears and sugarcane are the top choices, followed by water chestnuts and bananas, which are also good for moistening dryness. However, Yang Xiaohong reminds that if you are prone to diarrhea, you should not eat too many of the aforementioned fruits.
To prevent autumn dryness, you can also consume medicinal herbs or foods that nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and generate fluids, such as congee or soups made with Glehnia root, Ophiopogon root, and lily. You can also drink Ophiopogon and Lily tremella soup, fresh lotus root and tremella soup, rock sugar boiled pear water, chrysanthemum and Ophiopogon tea, or stew white fungus or black fungus with rock sugar. Additionally, soups made with Solomon's seal root, Glehnia root, and duck, or roasted black sesame ground into a paste and taken with honey, can all clear internal heat and moisten the lungs, providing a health benefit.
Avoided: Ginseng and lamb for heat-tonifying supplements
Furthermore, autumn supplementation should focus on light and neutral tonification. You should not consume too many warming foods or medicines in autumn, such as lamb, dog meat, ginseng, deer antler, or cassia bark, as these can easily aggravate autumn dryness.
In addition, autumn supplementation should be tailored to the individual. Therefore, for friends who are physically weak or suffer from chronic diseases, it is best to follow a doctor's guidance for a customized supplementation plan to achieve twice the result with half the effort.