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Diet for eczema: seven secrets of Chinese food that will change your life

Eczema can make life a pittance for both children and adults with red, dry, thick, and scaly skin that is constantly itchy. For many people, eczema is triggered by an allergic reaction to specific foods, and avoiding these foods can ease symptoms. Chinese Diet Therapy is a holistic system of treatment, part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), that views diet in a completely different way than our Western diets. Here I will give you my secrets of Seven Chinese Foods that will help your eczema and change your life.

1. Avoid cow’s milk

Eczema can often be triggered by cow’s milk, which is a common food given to children. Cow’s milk is very moist in nature and if your child’s digestive system is compromised it can cause itchy skin, festering and oozing rashes and lesions. Milk is not a common ingredient in the Chinese diet and is used sparingly. However, in the West we tend to consume milk in excess, which is why more and more people experience an allergic reaction to it. If your baby suffers from eczema, then you should look for an alternative. Possible substitutes are soy or goat milk, which form less moisture.

2. Avoid foods that form moisture

Not only does cow’s milk form wet, but other foods can also form extremely wet. Interestingly, some of these foods are common eczema triggers, like wheat and peanuts. Other moisture-forming foods include orange juice, bananas, sugar, cheese, and other dairy products.

3. Stop greasy food

Fried and greasy foods form extremely moist and are warm in nature. Eczema is Yang (warm) in nature, which means that excess heat in the body will cause symptoms such as redness, inflammation, and thirst. Cooking methods such as broiling, broiling, baking, frying, sautéing, and sautéing are all yang cooking methods. Boiling, simmering, stewing, braising, or steaming food is preferable, as these cooking methods are more yin in nature. Food cooked this way is naturally fresher and more nutritious for the body and skin.

4. Eat more refreshing and nutritious foods

To treat eczema, you need to reduce the redness, inflammation, and itchiness of the skin by removing heat. You should also moisten the dryness and strengthen the qi (vital energy) and blood. Foods to cool and moisten include grapefruit, lettuce, seaweed, watermelon, cucumber, celery, barley, tofu (tofu), pears, strawberry, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and tomatoes.

Excellent foods for strengthening qi and blood are dark green leafy vegetables, fruits, and dark red vegetables such as beets, kidney, aduki beans, and blueberries. Meats like liver, kidneys, and chicken are all qi and blood fortifiers. A great start to the day would be to have a bowl of porridge sprinkled with some dates.

5. Avoid raw foods and ice cream.

Too much raw and refrigerated foods (as opposed to cold foods) can damage the digestive system. The digestive system requires heat or digestive fire to function and prolonged and excessive use of raw or frozen foods will eventually weaken this digestive fire. You may have noticed that the Chinese don’t eat a lot of raw or frozen foods for this reason.

6. Balance your flavors

We have often heard that too many things are bad for you and this is true of the Chinese diet. In most Chinese recipes you will find a balance of flavors: salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and spicy. For example, salty foods (seaweed, pork, fish) regulate the moisture balance, drain excess moisture, and stimulate digestion. However, too much salt will dehydrate the body and lead to dryness. Sweet foods (sugar, bananas, milk) slightly stimulate the circulation of qi and blood, moistening and benefiting dryness. However, eating an excess of sweet foods will lead to the formation of moisture and heat that can cause eczema. Therefore, a balanced diet that includes all flavors is beneficial. You can increase or decrease a particular flavor according to your needs.

7. Chew slowly and enjoy your food.

Most often, eczema is caused by emotional stress. When we are stressed, we tend to overeat, eat little, or not enjoy what we eat. Do not eat when you are angry because this affects the movement of qi and can cause you to stagnate. Qi stagnation over time can cause a build-up of heat that can manifest as skin rashes and inflammation.

The Chinese know the benefit of chewing slowly and with concentration, so forget about TV or reading while eating, just focus on your food. Each bite should be chewed well, as this helps our digestive system work more efficiently.

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