Symptoms and Dietary Restrictions of Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

Causes of Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

The production of phlegm is mainly related to the lungs and spleen. The lungs govern respiration and regulate the entry and exit of the vital energy (yuan qi). If the lungs fail to disperse and descend, symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and difficulty lying flat may occur. When wind or cold pathogens invade the lungs, the body fluids within can congeal into phlegm. The spleen governs transformation and transportation, which includes digestion and the delivery of nutrients to various organs. If dampness invades the body, or if there is excessive thinking, fatigue, or irregular eating habits, the spleen can be damaged, losing its ability to transform and transport, leading to the accumulation of water and dampness that congeals into phlegm.

Symptoms of Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

Individuals with a phlegm-dampness constitution are often overweight, feel heavy and easily fatigued, and prefer rich and fatty foods, often consuming large quantities. In terms of diet, they should avoid rich and fatty foods, alcohol, and should not overeat or eat too quickly. It is advisable to consume foods that are mild, warm, and balanced, with an emphasis on vegetables and fruits, especially those that strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, and resolve phlegm.

Those with a phlegm-dampness constitution frequently experience cough, asthma, excessive phlegm, dizziness, gastrointestinal discomfort, and vomiting. They are also prone to chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema, arteriosclerosis, chronic gastritis, chronic enteritis, and obesity. Therefore, individuals with this constitution can benefit from the use of warming and phlegm-resolving herbs for nourishment.

It is important for individuals with a phlegm-dampness constitution to engage in regular physical exercise, such as walking, jogging, ball games, swimming, martial arts, the Five Animal Frolics, and various forms of dance. The intensity of activity should gradually increase, allowing loose flesh to transform into firm, dense muscle. If practicing qigong, standing postures, health exercises, and longevity practices are recommended to enhance the flow of qi.

Dietary Restrictions for Individuals with Phlegm-Dampness Constitution

Recommended: Foods should be light in flavor, eat until 70% full, chew slowly, and consume slightly warming foods that can disperse lung qi, strengthen the spleen, benefit the kidneys, resolve dampness, and promote the flow of the San Jiao (Triple Burner). Avoid excessive consumption of yin-nourishing foods. For those with yang deficiency, qi deficiency, or qi stagnation, complement with foods that tonify yang, tonify qi, and promote qi flow.

Avoid: Overeating, skipping breakfast, having a lavish dinner, eating late-night snacks, and consuming sour, cold, fatty, sticky, coarse, or sweet foods.

Recommended:(Foods to eat)

Fruits: Tangerines, cherries, pomelos, ginkgo nuts, lotus seeds, loquats, olives, water chestnuts, jujubes, figs.

Vegetables: Winter melon, onions, loofah, gourds, radishes, carrots, tender leaves of the Chinese toon, mustard greens, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms.

Green onions, garlic, bamboo shoots.

Grains: Barley, buckwheat, sorghum, corn, rice, yellow soybeans, black soybeans, red beans, fava beans, lentils, peanuts.

Seafood: Jellyfish, oysters, clams, loaches, black fish, crucian carp, kelp, nori, clams, fathead fish.

Freshwater Fish: Loaches, black fish, crucian carp.

Condiments: Ginger, mustard.

Beverages: Alcohol (in moderation).

Avoid:(Foods to avoid or limit)

Sour foods, cold foods.