Eczema can make life a misery for children and adults alike with red, dry, thick, scaly skin that is constantly itchy. For many people, eczema is triggered by an allergic reaction to specific foods, and avoiding these foods can relieve symptoms. Chinese Diet Therapy is a holistic system of treatment, part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), that looks at diet in a completely different way than our Western diets. Here I will give you my seven Chinese food secrets that will help you with 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 naturally very moist and if your child’s digestive system is compromised it can cause itchy skin, rashes and oozing and weeping lesions. Milk is not a common ingredient in the Chinese diet and is used sparingly. However, in the West we tend to consume too much milk, which is why more and more people experience an allergic reaction. If your baby is suffering from eczema then you should look for an alternative. Possible substitutes are soy or goat milk, which form less moist.
2. Avoid Foods That Form Moisture
Cow’s milk not only makes it moist, but other foods can also become very moist. Interestingly, some of these foods are common eczema triggers, such as wheat and peanuts. Other wet foods include orange juice, bananas, sugar, cheese, and other dairy products.
3. Stop eating fat
Fried and greasy foods form extremely moist and are naturally warm. Eczema is Yang (hot) in nature, which means that if there is excess heat in the body, it will cause symptoms such as redness, swelling and thirst. Cooking methods such as roasting, grilling, baking, frying, sautéing, and sautéing are all yang cooking methods. Boiling, simmering, stewing, stewing, or steaming food is preferable, as these cooking methods are more yin in nature. Foods cooked in this way are naturally fresher and more nourishing 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. It should also moisten dryness and strengthen qi (vital energy) and blood. Cooling and moisturizing foods include grapefruit, lettuce, seaweed, watermelon, cucumber, celery, barley, tofu, pears, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and tomatoes.
Excellent foods for strengthening qi and blood are dark green leafy vegetables, dark red fruits, and vegetables such as beets, kidney beans, aduki beans, and blueberries. Meats such as liver, kidney, and chicken strengthen qi and blood. A fantastic start to the day would be to have a bowl of porridge sprinkled with some dates.
5. Avoid raw foods and ice cream
Too many raw, 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 food or ice cream for this reason.
6. Balance your flavors
We have often heard that too much of one thing is 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 hot. 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 cause dryness. Sweet foods (sugar, bananas, milk), gently stimulate the circulation of qi and blood, moisturizing 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 depending on your needs.
7. Chew slowly and enjoy your food
Very often, eczema is caused by emotional stress. When we are stressed, we tend to overeat, undereat, or not enjoy what we eat. Do not eat when you are angry because this affects the movement of qi and can cause it to become stagnant. Qi stagnation over time can cause a buildup of heat that can manifest as rashes and inflammation.
The Chinese know the benefit of chewing slowly and with focus, so forget about TV or reading while you eat, just focus on your food. Each bite needs to be chewed well as this helps our digestive system work more efficiently.
