04/08/2020 / By Zoey Sky
When your immune system isn’t functioning at its best, you’re more susceptible to infectious diseases like the common cold. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), eating certain foods and spices can help boost your immune health.
TCM refers to a 5,000-year-old system that uses natural treatments such as acupuncture and cupping to promote mental and physical health.
Try these three proven tips from TCM to naturally support your immune system and prevent illnesses.
Your digestive organs need warmth to function properly. Peristalsis or the physical movement of food being pushed through the digestive tract to be absorbed, needs muscle and energy.
Your insides are warm, and your muscles function best when they’re also warm. This is why you need to warm up before exercising.
Drinking cold foods and beverages may put out the “fire” of your metabolic system.
Replacing some cold, raw vegetables in your diet with warm soups, roasted vegetables and bone broths can help relieve this stress on your digestive system and free up energy for your immune system. (Related: Make yourself a batch of pea miso soup – your immune system will thank you.)
Bring warmth into your body by using more spices like cayenne and cloves when cooking.
Detailed below are more energizing herbs often used in TCM to promote immune health:
In Chinese food therapy, flavors are divided into five categories that each corresponds to different organs and promotes balance in the body.
Based on these categories, balancing your meals by flavor helps promote overall wellness. Try cooking with invigorating and warming ingredients such as bitter scallions, salty almonds, sour fermented veggies, spicy garlic or sweet pears.
Using these tips from TCM, you can naturally support your immune health by enjoying warming savory soups, eating more cooked veggies and balancing the flavors of your meals.
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Tagged Under: Chinese food therapy, common colds, food cures, food is medicine, functional food, herbal medicine, Herbs, immune health, immune system, natural remedies, nutrition, recipes, soups, TCM, traditional Chinese medicine
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