Healthy lung function is a key player in the body’s first line of defense against colds & flu. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the defensive qi, wei qi, is derived from the food we eat and the air we breathe, suggesting that the absorption of nutrients and the oxygenation of tissues help our bodies fight colds and flu. Autumn is the time of year in which foods that nourish and protect our lungs and immune systems are abundant. This is the time of year we cut back on eating raw salads and move towards lightly cooked vegetables and warming foods.
Include the following foods to promote the protective mechanisms of healthy Lung Qi
Grains: Rice & oats
Vegetables & Tubers: Sweet potato, yam, potato, winter squash, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, radish, watercress, & mustard greens
Fruits: Apples, pears, & peaches
Herbs: Spices, & Flavorings: Parsley, leeks, onion, garlic, horseradish, fresh ginger, curry, licorice root, marshmallow root, & ginseng
Nuts & Seeds: Almonds and almond butter, & flaxseed meal
Other flavorings: Molasses & rice syrup
For dry cough: Eat daily a baked pear sprinkled with cinnamon (I cook mine in the toaster oven at 375° for 15 minutes) or drink ¼ cup organic pear juice a day.