Eczema can make life miserable for both children and adults with red, dry, thick and scaly skin that is constantly itching. For many people, eczema is triggered by an allergic reaction to specific foods and avoiding those foods can relieve symptoms. Chinese dietary therapy is a holistic treatment system, part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which views the diet in a completely different way than our Western diets. Here, I will give you my secrets of the Seven Chinese Foods that will help your eczema and change your life.
1. Avoid cow’s milk
Often, eczema can 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, rashes and secretion and secretion lesions. Milk is not a common ingredient in the Chinese diet and is used sparingly. However, in the West, we tend to consume excess milk, which is why more and more people are having an allergic reaction to it. If your baby is suffering from eczema, then you should really look for an alternative. Possible substitutes are soy or goat’s milk, which form less moisture.
2. Avoid moisture-forming foods
Not only is cow’s milk forming moist, but other foods can also be extremely moist. Interestingly, some of these foods are common triggers for eczema, such as wheat and peanuts. Other moisture-forming foods include orange juice, bananas, sugar, cheese and other dairy products.
3. Stop fatty food
Fried and fatty foods are extremely moist and hot in nature. Eczema is Yang (hot) in nature, which means that if there is excess heat in the body, it will cause symptoms such as redness, inflammation and thirst. Cooking methods such as roasting, grilling, roasting, frying, sautéing and braising are all yang cooking methods. It is preferable to boil, simmer, sauté, steam or steam, as these methods of cooking are more yin. Foods cooked in this way are colder in nature and more nutritious for the body and skin.
4. Eat more refreshing and nutritious foods
To treat eczema, you need to reduce redness, inflammation and itching of the skin by eliminating heat. You must also moisten dryness and strengthen qi (vital energy) and blood. Refreshing and moisturizing foods include grapefruit, lettuce, kelp, watermelon, cucumber, celery, barley, tofu, pear, strawberry, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and tomatoes.
Excellent foods to strengthen qi and blood are dark green leafy vegetables, dark red fruits and vegetables, such as beets, kidneys, azuki beans and blueberries. Meats such as liver, kidneys and chicken strengthen qi and blood. A fantastic start to the day would be to have a bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with some dates.
5. Avoid raw and frozen foods
Many raw and chilled foods (as opposed to refreshing 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 weaken that digestive fire. You may have noticed that the Chinese don’t eat a lot of raw or frozen foods for that reason.
6. Balance your flavors
We often hear that too much of one thing is bad for you and this is true in the Chinese diet. In most Chinese recipes, you’ll find a balance of flavors – salty, sour, bitter, sweet and spicy. For example, salty foods (algae, pork, fish) regulate moisture balance, drain excess moisture and stimulate digestion. Too much salt, however, dehydrates the body and causes dryness. Sweet foods (sugar, banana, milk) slightly stimulate the circulation of qi and blood, moistening and benefiting dryness. However, overeating with sweet foods will lead to the formation of moisture and heat, which can cause eczema. Therefore, a balanced diet including all flavors is beneficial. You can increase or decrease a certain flavor according to your needs.
7. Chew slowly and enjoy the food
Eczema is often caused by emotional stress. When we are stressed, we tend to overeat, undereat or dislike what we eat. Do not eat when you are angry, as this affects the movement of qi and can cause it to stagnate. Stagnant Qi over time can cause an increase in heat that can manifest itself as rashes and inflammation.
The Chinese know the benefit of chewing slowly and with concentration, so forget about television or reading while you’re eating – just focus on food. Each mouthful should be chewed carefully, as this helps our digestive system to function more efficiently.