Introduction: The term "internal heat" (Shanghuo) in Traditional Chinese Medicine is mainly characterized by symptoms such as flushed face, dizziness, headache, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, dry lips and tongue, restless sleep, dark urine, and constipation. Some people may also experience excessive eye discharge, styes, toothaches, swollen gums, or mouth ulcers. Although these symptoms are not severe, they often interfere with daily life and are common manifestations of sub-health.
There are many ways to prevent and treat "internal heat," among which dietary therapy has many advantages. The general principle for using diet to reduce heat is to eat more heat-clearing and yin-nourishing foods, such as fresh green leafy vegetables, fruits, and green tea, to clear heat, promote bowel movements, and help excrete "heat-producing" substances from the body through urine and sweat. It is best to avoid rich, greasy, and heat-generating foods like garlic, chili, lamb, dog meat, and smoked or grilled foods, so as not to worsen the symptoms of "internal heat."
Foods suitable for people with "internal heat"
Pear: It has effects such as clearing heat and moistening the lungs, relieving restlessness and thirst, promoting fluid production to quench thirst, and stopping cough and resolving phlegm. It not only lowers body temperature and quenches thirst but can also treat yellow urine, dry stools, dry lips, and a dry mouth. It is effective for "internal heat" symptoms such as coughing, asthma, wind-heat, and pharyngitis. Due to its cold nature, people with a weak spleen and stomach, clear drooling, or loose stools should consume it with caution.
Wang's Cooked Pear
Mulberry: It is rich in nutrition, containing various organic acids, sugars, and abundant minerals, mainly iron and phosphorus. The darker the color, the more iron it contains. Black mulberry is sweet and cold in nature, and has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, clearing heat and promoting urination, and nourishing yin to reduce fire.
Watermelon: It is an excellent summer and autumn food for relieving summer heat and reducing fire. It is nutritious, cool and delicious, contains no fat, has dozens of nutrients, and is inexpensive and easy to obtain. It is sweet and cold in nature, and has the effects of clearing heat and relieving vexation, quenching thirst and relieving summer heat, nourishing yin to reduce fire, and alleviating alcohol intoxication.
Watermelon Slush
Lily bulb: It is rich in starch, protein, and minerals and is recognized as a nourishing treasure. It is sweet and bland in taste, slightly cold and slightly bitter in nature. Its effects include nourishing yin to clear heat, quenching thirst and promoting fluid production, clearing the heart to calm the mind, nourishing yin to reduce fire, and moistening the lungs. It can treat symptoms such as yellow urine, dry stools, dry cough due to lung dryness, low-grade fever with vexation, and palpitations with insomnia.
Water chestnut: It is sweet and slightly cold in nature, and has the effects of clearing heat and quenching thirst, reducing fire and resolving phlegm. It is especially suitable for symptoms such as vexation and thirst, dark urine, dry stools, swollen and sore throat, and red eyes with dry lips. However, due to its cold and slippery nature, even healthy people should not eat too much of it. It is not suitable for people with a weak spleen and stomach, loose stools and diarrhea, or insufficient kidney yang.
Lotus root: It is rich in nutrients such as starch, vitamins, protein, and minerals. It is sweet and cold in nature. Fresh lotus root enters the heart, liver, spleen, and stomach meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat and promoting urination, nourishing yin to reduce fire, promoting fluid production to quench thirst, stimulating appetite to aid digestion, and cooling blood to stop bleeding. It can be eaten raw or pounded into juice.
Bitter bamboo shoot: It tastes bitter yet sweet, and is cool but not cold. It has the effects of clearing summer heat and detoxifying, clearing the heart to calm the mind, reducing fire and cooling blood, and strengthening the stomach to resolve food stagnation. In summer, bitter bamboo shoots are often used with pork ribs and pickled vegetables to make a bitter bamboo shoot pot, which is sweet and bitter, delicious, and truly a great dish for relieving summer heat, quenching thirst, and purging fire to cool the blood.
Pickled Bitter Bamboo Shoots
Chrysanthemum tea: It is convenient to carry and use, and is suitable for "internal heat" symptoms such as headache and cough, red and swollen throat, red eyes, and dark urine with dry stools.