The Fall season is the best time of year, in Chinese Medicine, to improve lung health. Taking time to eat and prepare healthy foods to support the lungs will ensure strong lungs throughout the upcoming year.  This is especially important for allergy sufferers or those who frequently catch colds or flu as the temperatures change.

Signs and Symptoms of Lung Weakness/Deficiency:

• frequently catching colds and flus
• frequent sinus infections, asthma, allergies (click here for my blog about allergies) and skin issues (like hives, rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis)
• cough
• phlegm in lungs
• shortness of breath
• weak voice
• spontaneous sweating
• fatigue

The lungs are extremely susceptible to wind, dryness and cold. As the weather cools down, it’s important to keep our lungs warm and moist while preventing the build up of dampness and phlegm. We do this by changing the way we eat during the Fall. Some healthy foods that are good for us during the summer become more of a hindrance during the fall.

What kind of healthy foods improve lung health during the Fall?

• Seasonal Foods: beets, brussels sprouts, cranberries, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, squash, and sweet potatoes.
• Pungent foods and spices: garlic, onions, ginger, horseradish, mustard, white peppercorns
• Foods that specifically target the Lungs in Chinese Medicine: apples, almonds, cauliflower, daikon radish, mushrooms, oats, parsnip, pears, potatoes, radish, rutabaga, rice, and sesame seeds.
• Warm, cooked foods for all meals: oatmeal or congee for breakfast, soups, roasted or sauteed vegetables for lunch and dinner
• Honey is wonderful to moisten lungs (limit if there is phlegm or mucous present)
• Limit raw and cold foods
• Limit dairy products: in some people, dairy products can cause an accumulation of dampness and increase mucous and phlegm. Even with a dry cough, there can be phlegm present.  Try to limit or avoid dairy and see if your symptoms improve. If dairy is a must (I know too many cheese mongers!), try switching to products with goat milk vs cow milk to lessen the effects.

Happy Autumn Equinox!!