After the start of autumn, it's important to eat foods that nourish the lungs, as this is crucial at this time. Among many foods, there are several common ones that have lung-nourishing properties. Therefore, we've compiled a list of lung-nourishing foods and recipes for the start of autumn. Let's learn a few tricks together!
What to eat to nourish the lungs at the start of autumn
Honey. Honey is a very natural nourishing food with effects such as nourishing yin and moisturizing dryness, whitening and beautifying the skin, and moisturizing the intestines and relieving constipation. Honey with good lung-nourishing and moisturizing effects includes winter honey, citrus honey, loquat honey, and goji berry honey.
White fungus. White fungus is known as the "king of fungi" and is a precious and nutritious tonic. It is sweet, bland, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It can invigorate the spleen and stomach, benefit qi and cleanse the intestines, and also nourish yin and moisten the lungs.
Lily bulbs. According to traditional Chinese medicine, lily bulbs are slightly cold in nature and have the effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, and calming the mind, making them suitable for consumption in autumn.
Yam. Yam is sweet in taste and cool and moist in nature. It enters the lung, spleen and kidney meridians and has the effects of strengthening the spleen and stomach, benefiting the lungs and kidneys, and replenishing deficiency.
Fruits that nourish the lungs at the start of autumn
Lemon: Extremely sour in taste, it has the functions of promoting saliva production, quenching thirst, relieving summer heat, and calming the fetus. Citric acid is the most abundant organic acid found in various fruits, hence its name. Drinking lemon beverages regularly can greatly benefit patients with hypertension and myocardial infarction in improving their symptoms.
Apples: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that apples have the functions of promoting body fluid production, moistening the lungs, relieving irritability, stimulating appetite, and sobering up. For those with indigestion or qi stagnation, apple juice can be consumed. Modern medicine believes that apples can also prevent and eliminate fatigue. The potassium in apples can combine with excess sodium in the body and help excrete it. When excessive salt is ingested, eating apples can help eliminate it, so eating apples or drinking apple juice is beneficial for patients with high blood pressure.
Grapes: They are sweet and sour in taste. Fresh grapes are sweet and sour, and can quench thirst, stimulate appetite and aid digestion. However, people with weak spleen and stomach should not eat too many grapes, as eating too many can cause diarrhea.
Star fruit: Its flavor is sweet, sour, and neutral. The fruit can quench thirst and promote the production of body fluids. In autumn, if suffering from wind-heat cough, one can wash and eat fresh star fruit; if suffering from painful urination, use 2-3 fresh star fruits, wash, chop, and mash them into juice, then mix with warm water and drink twice a day; if suffering from sore throat, wash and eat fresh star fruit 2-3 times a day, 1-2 fruits each time. However, excessive consumption of this fruit can harm the stomach, especially for those with weak spleen and stomach; they should eat less.
Grapefruit: Sour and cold in nature, it can relieve bloating, resolve phlegm and stop coughing, strengthen the stomach and aid digestion, reduce swelling and relieve pain. It is suitable for stomach ailments, indigestion, chronic cough, excessive phlegm and wheezing. Grapefruit is known for its rich vitamin C content, which is beneficial for patients with cardiovascular disease and obesity. The organic acids contained in grapefruit are mostly citric acid, which has the effect of eliminating fatigue.
Hawthorn: It is sour, sweet and slightly warm in nature. It has the effects of dispersing blood stasis, eliminating food stagnation, resolving phlegm, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, refreshing the mind, clearing the stomach, awakening the brain, preventing heatstroke and increasing appetite. It has significant effects on more than ten diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
In addition, here are some lung-nourishing recipes to recommend.
Recipes for nourishing the lungs before the start of autumn
Frangipani and Adenophora Root Soup with Pig's Trotters
Ingredients: 20g frangipani, 30g sand ginseng (available at Chinese medicine stores), 400g pork hock, 3 slices of ginger.
Preparation: Wash all ingredients separately. Soak the herbs briefly; cut the pork hock into chunks. Place all ingredients, along with ginger, into an earthenware pot, add 2500 ml of water (about 10 bowls), bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1.5 hours. Season with salt to taste. This amount serves 3-4 people.
Red bean and dried tangerine peel soup
Recommended because: Red beans have the effects of calming the mind and nourishing the spirit, as well as strengthening the spleen and kidneys. Adding dried tangerine peel can prevent autumn dryness, enhance the vitality of internal organs, and boost physical strength.
Instructions: Rinse red beans thoroughly and soak them in water. Add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and a small piece of dried tangerine peel. Pour an appropriate amount of water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Add the red beans and cook over high heat until they are soft. Then, add the rock sugar and dried tangerine peel to the pot, stir well, and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes. When serving, remove the dried tangerine peel and only drink the soup and eat the beans.
Pork Rib and Lotus Root Soup
Recommended because: Lotus root has a sweet taste and is rich in starch, protein, vitamin C and B1, as well as inorganic salts such as calcium, phosphorus and iron. The flesh of lotus root is easy to digest and is suitable for nourishing the body of people of all ages.
Instructions: First, peel the lotus root, smash it with the back of a knife, and then slice it. Blanch the pork ribs and set aside. Next, rinse the dried cuttlefish with water, soak it in warm water for 20 minutes, and then slice it. Put the prepared pork ribs, lotus root, and dried cuttlefish into water, add ginger, and simmer over medium heat for 1.5 hours. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and season with salt.
Yam and pork rib soup
Recommendation reason: Yam nourishes the spleen and stomach, and is especially suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach to eat before taking any tonics. It has a savory and slightly salty flavor, and can nourish the kidneys and blood, enhance immunity, and is highly nutritious when consumed after the start of autumn.
Instructions: Blanch the pork ribs, then rinse them with clean water to remove any scum. Place them in a pot. Add ham cut into 2cm pieces, bring to a boil over high heat, and skim off any scum again. Add scallions, ginger, codonopsis root, and a small amount of Shaoxing wine. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for half an hour. Add goji berries, cover, and simmer for another half hour. Finally, add peeled and diced yam, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and simmer until the yam is tender. Season with salt to taste.
To nourish your lungs during the start of autumn, eat more of the foods mentioned above.
