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Dampness refers to the condition where body fluids cannot be smoothly expelled and accumulate within the body. Excessive dampness alters the body’s environment, leading to various discomforts.
As the saying goes, “Nine out of ten people have dampness.” Most of what we refer to as sub-health is caused by dampness. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is a saying, “Where dampness exists, a hundred diseases arise; remove dampness, and a hundred diseases vanish,” which highlights the impact of accumulated dampness on health.
In recent years, the terms “dampness” and “eliminating dampness” have become increasingly common, as people pay more attention to their dampness levels and seek methods to detoxify.
In fact, there are many foods that can help eliminate dampness in daily life. Today, let’s take a look at which foods can help with this!
Regularly eating these 16 types of food can clear dampness!
1. **Chi Xiao Dou** (Red Adzuki Bean)
Chi Xiao Dou is a type of edible red bean, primarily used for medicinal purposes, and is often referred to collectively with the common red bean. The dampness-eliminating effects differ between the two; while red beans have some dampness-reducing properties, they are not as potent as Chi Xiao Dou.
According to the 2005 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chi Xiao Dou has diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties, treating symptoms such as edema, beriberi, jaundice, rheumatic heat, carbuncles, and abdominal pain. Regular consumption of Chi Xiao Dou helps expel accumulated body fluids.
2. **Hong Shu** (Sweet Potato)
Also known as “di gua,” the preparation varies by region. Sweet potatoes contain soft fibers that can absorb body fluids and promote intestinal peristalsis, helping to expel dampness from the body.
3. **Shan Yao** (Chinese Yam)
Shan Yao is warm in nature and does not directly expel dampness from the body. However, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia records that Shan Yao can tonify the spleen and nourish the stomach, helping the spleen better manage the transformation and transportation of fluids, thus enhancing fluid expulsion from the body.
4. **Yi Yi Ren** (Job’s Tears)
Yi Yi Ren has the effects of strengthening the spleen, promoting diuresis, and eliminating dampness. Those with significant dampness can benefit from regular consumption. Yi Yi Ren combined with Chi Xiao Dou enhances the dampness-eliminating effect.
5. **Shui Qian** (Water Celery)
Water celery is a food with high medicinal value, often used in TCM. It has a sweet and spicy flavor, is cool in nature, and is easy to prepare. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, moistening the lungs, and promoting diuresis, making it effective for eliminating dampness.
6. **Xian Cai** (Amaranth)
Xian Cai is rich in fiber and is an excellent food for weight loss, enhancing physical constitution, and is known as the “longevity vegetable.” In fact, Xian Cai is also a great food for clearing heat and eliminating dampness; consuming more can help with dampness removal.
7. **Wu Zhi Mao Tao** (Five-Fingered Peach)
Wu Zhi Mao Tao is effective for treating coughs due to lung tuberculosis, a benefit proven in mouse experiments. Additionally, it can strengthen the spleen, nourish the lungs, promote qi, and eliminate dampness, making it suitable for those with significant dampness to include in their diet.
8. **Bai Bian Dou** (White Hyacinth Bean)
Bai Bian Dou is native to tropical regions and was introduced to China during the Han and Jin dynasties. It has a mild nature and has the effects of strengthening the spleen, transforming dampness, and promoting diuresis.
9. **Dong Gua** (Winter Melon)
Also known as the “weight-loss melon,” it has diuretic and heat-clearing properties, treating edema and summer heat. The “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic” records that it can “lighten the body and resist aging” with long-term consumption, making it a good food for eliminating dampness and weight loss.
10. **Luo Sun** (Asparagus Lettuce)
Luo Sun contains more potassium than sodium, helping to maintain the body’s electrolyte balance and ensuring sufficient hydration for bodily functions while expelling excess fluids.
11. **Jia Yu** (Carp)
Carp is an omnivorous fish that strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis, and stimulates appetite, providing excellent dietary therapy for those with spleen deficiency and edema. Regular consumption of carp can accelerate the expulsion of dampness from the body, and making soup with carp is a nutritious method.
12. **Li Yu** (Common Carp)
Li Yu, also known as “Li Zi,” has medicinal value in all its parts. It is effective for those with significant dampness, as it enters the spleen meridian and enhances the spleen’s role in managing the transformation of fluids, aiding in dampness expulsion.
13. **Lu Dou** (Mung Bean)
Mung beans are a summer food that helps cool the body and has diuretic properties.
14. **Hu Luo Bo** (Carrot)
Carrots are suitable for all ages and are believed in TCM to strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourish the liver and improve eyesight, and clear heat and detoxify. Eating more carrots benefits the spleen and stomach, accelerating dampness expulsion.
15. **Tu Fu Ling** (Poria)
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia records that “Fu Ling is sweet and neutral, entering the heart, lungs, spleen, and kidneys,” meaning it can treat spleen deficiency and edema, helping to expel dampness from the body.
16. **You Mai** (Oat)
Also known as oil wheat, it belongs to the oat family. It has the effects of tonifying deficiency, benefiting qi, eliminating dampness, inducing sweating, and stopping diarrhea.
Excessive dampness is often related to lifestyle and dietary habits. Eating more foods that eliminate dampness can alleviate symptoms.
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