Winter weather is cold and dry, and many bad habits and dietary habits can easily cause internal heat, and there are many reasons for internal heat. Different types of internal heat should also be treated differently in order to effectively reduce internal heat. So let's take a look at what to eat to reduce internal heat in winter.
Differences in diet between "excessive internal heat" and "deficient internal heat"
Winter internal heat can be divided into excessive internal heat and deficient internal heat, which have different causes and symptoms. Therefore, diet should be adjusted based on the related symptoms in order to effectively reduce internal heat.
Excessive internal heat is mostly caused by climate
Excessive internal heat is usually caused by climate factors, and sometimes it is also related to improper diet. The common symptoms include red tongue, thick yellow coating on the tongue, sore throat, toothache, mouth sores, thirst, bad breath, dizziness, headache, restlessness, night sweats, dark yellow urine, bloating, and constipation. For this type of internal heat, you can eat more bitter gourd, white radish, and beans to reduce internal heat. These foods have the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing yin and reducing fire, moisturizing and diuretic.
Deficient internal heat is mostly caused by irritability and excessive fatigue
Deficient internal heat mainly refers to the fire caused by yin deficiency, which is mostly caused by the false appearance of yang due to yin deficiency. The symptoms of internal heat include light-colored urine, thin white coating on the tongue, coldness below the waist, irregular menstruation and painful menstruation in women, dark-colored menstrual blood with blood clots, fatigue, soft stools or alternating diarrhea and constipation. Even after clearing the fire, these symptoms may recur, so it is best to focus on nourishing yin and kidney. You can eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and foods rich in fiber and vitamins. Foods rich in protein, such as wheat, millet, corn, buckwheat, black sesame, pork, duck, tremella, black fungus, cabbage, spinach, grapes, kiwi, pear, and pomelo, are also recommended.
Differences in diet for different organs' internal heat
Excessive liver heat
The main symptoms of excessive liver heat are redness and swelling of the corners of the eyes, pain, irritability, and irritability. People in this category can drink water infused with two teaspoons of cassia seed. If there is no improvement, a small amount of wild chrysanthemum can be added to the cassia seed. If there is a dry feeling in the eyes, accompanied by a feeling of heat in the palms and soles of the feet, irritability, and night sweats, it may be caused by deficiency of liver yin. In this case, you can drink water infused with wolfberry and a little Hangbai chrysanthemum. You can also eat two tablespoons of roasted black sesame before going to bed.
Excessive heart heat
The symptoms of excessive heart heat mainly include red and painful tongue, and sometimes blisters on the tongue. In addition, some patients may also have insomnia, restlessness, dry stools, forgetfulness, and thirst. People in this category should eat more bitter gourd or drink water infused with lotus seed hearts. If there is only redness of the tongue without pain and poor sleep quality, this condition may be caused by deficiency of heart yin. In this case, you can boil water infused with sour jujube kernels, wolfberry, and Schisandra chinensis together to nourish the heart yin. People who have a tendency of kidney yin deficiency are especially suitable for drinking it.
Excessive stomach heat
The common symptoms of excessive stomach heat include toothache and swollen gums. You can eat more seaweed and nori, and drink water infused with kudzu root powder to clear stomach heat. In addition, kiwi, pear, banana, and other cold fruits also have the effect of clearing stomach heat. If there is discomfort in the stomach, always feeling hungry but unable to eat, accompanied by thirst and dry stools, this may be caused by deficiency of stomach yin. It is best to eat more papaya and tremella to clear stomach yin.
Foods to reduce internal heat in winter
Lily for spleen and stomach health
Lily tastes sweet and bitter, and has a slightly cold nature. It enters the heart, lung, and spleen meridians. Use 30 grams of lily, 100 grams of glutinous rice, and 20 grams of sweet almonds. Cook them into porridge and consume it. It has the effects of nourishing yin and lungs, clearing heat and diuresis, calming the mind, stopping coughing, invigorating the spleen, and regulating the stomach.
Tremella to improve dull complexion
Tremella contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B2, carotene, keratin, and other essential nutrients. Cook the tremella until it becomes thick and soft, then add tomatoes and boil. Add an appropriate amount of rock sugar to taste. It can moisten the lungs and relieve cough, nourish yin and moisturize, and effectively eliminate muscle fatigue, enhance brain function, and prevent aging.
Chinese yam for calming the mind
Chinese yam contains abundant starch, protein, inorganic salts, niacin, vitamin B, carotene, etc. Eating Chinese yam can intake a large amount of mucin protein, which can help prevent fat deposition in the cardiovascular system, maintain blood vessel elasticity, and prevent arteriosclerosis.
Sesame for intestinal lubrication and bowel movement
Eating an appropriate amount of sesame during the winter when experiencing internal heat can help maintain loose stools and promote bowel movements. In addition, sesame contains abundant protein and unsaturated fatty acids. Eating sesame can help maintain stable blood sugar levels, improve bone density, and promote joint flexibility and beautiful skin.
