Clinic Location: 16897 Placer Hills Rd. Meadow Vista, CA 95722 (530) 878-4828 |
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Eating to Beat the Heat
It’s summer in California, and
undeniably hot. Have you ever thought
about the different kinds of heat?
According to Chinese Medicine heat in
the body is either excess or deficient.
Excess heat may be caused by
something in the environment, like hot
weather or a heat-producing infection
(sore throat, fever, inflammation,
burning sores). Excess heat may also
originate internally, like high blood
pressure with blood-shot eyes, a red
face and sensitivity to heat.
Deficient heat is caused by lack of yin
in the body. (The cool, dark, damp,
slow, and quiet qualities.) A common
occurrence of deficient heat is hot
flashes and night sweats during
menopause. Deficient heat also
It’s summer in California, and
undeniably hot. Have you ever thought
about the different kinds of heat?
According to Chinese Medicine heat in
the body is either excess or deficient.
Excess heat may be caused by
something in the environment, like hot
weather or a heat-producing infection
(sore throat, fever, inflammation,
burning sores). Excess heat may also
originate internally, like high blood
pressure with blood-shot eyes, a red
face and sensitivity to heat.
Deficient heat is caused by lack of yin
in the body. (The cool, dark, damp,
slow, and quiet qualities.) A common
occurrence of deficient heat is hot
flashes and night sweats during
menopause. Deficient heat also
To cool down, eat:
Cold nature: Watermelon & other
melons, grapefruit, banana, star fruit,
persimmon, clams, crab, tomato, water
chestnuts, bamboo shoots, kelp,
seaweed, salt.
Cool nature: Cucumber, lettuce,
spinach, radish, mung beans, barley,
button mushrooms, egg white, tofu,
mango, apples, strawberries, pears,
tangerines, mandarins, loquat,
peppermint (but spearmint is warm).
Avoid: Red or green peppers, black or
white pepper, ginger, cinnamon, alcohol,
coffee, garlic, mustard greens, arugula,
and spicy foods.
Cold nature: Watermelon & other
melons, grapefruit, banana, star fruit,
persimmon, clams, crab, tomato, water
chestnuts, bamboo shoots, kelp,
seaweed, salt.
Cool nature: Cucumber, lettuce,
spinach, radish, mung beans, barley,
button mushrooms, egg white, tofu,
mango, apples, strawberries, pears,
tangerines, mandarins, loquat,
peppermint (but spearmint is warm).
Avoid: Red or green peppers, black or
white pepper, ginger, cinnamon, alcohol,
coffee, garlic, mustard greens, arugula,
and spicy foods.
occurs when long-term illness burns up
yin.
Each food or herb has a cooling or
warming nature, and can be used to
offset temperature imbalances in the
body. Deficient heat also requires the
replacement of yin, generally through
herbs.
Although refrigerated drinks cool you
down quickly, the cooling or heating
nature, regardless of the temperature,
determines
long-term effects. For instance an iced
coffee will initially cool you down, but has
a long-lasting effect of creating more
heat. Whereas, hot green tea will cool
you down after the initial warmth of the
beverage wears off.
yin.
Each food or herb has a cooling or
warming nature, and can be used to
offset temperature imbalances in the
body. Deficient heat also requires the
replacement of yin, generally through
herbs.
Although refrigerated drinks cool you
down quickly, the cooling or heating
nature, regardless of the temperature,
determines
long-term effects. For instance an iced
coffee will initially cool you down, but has
a long-lasting effect of creating more
heat. Whereas, hot green tea will cool
you down after the initial warmth of the
beverage wears off.
Linnie O'Flanagan, L.Ac.
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