Taking care of the lungs is essential for enhancing immunity, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to Chinese medicine, food and medicine have the same origin, and consuming white foods can help to nourish them and protect the respiratory tract.
Modern medicine also believes that white food is beneficial to the lungs and the body. White foods contain polysaccharides, organic sulfides, and polyphenols which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, in order to nourish the lungs, it is recommended to eat more white foods, such as white fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
6 foods to boost lung immunity
1. Snow fungus
Tremella fuciformis, also known as white jelly mushroom or snow fungus, can improve symptoms such as dry cough, gastrointestinal dryness, and constipation. Gao Haoyu, an attending physician at the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) of Mackay Hospital in Taiwan, said that patients with dry mouth often experience this symptom due to having dry lungs. For them, eating some snow fungus will provide relief and constipation will improve as well.
In addition, snow fungus is rich in water-soluble fiber which can promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut. It also contains polysaccharides, which have been found to have immune-boosting properties and anti-cancer properties.
2. Lily
Lily, which has a medicinal history of thousands of years, is believed to belong to the Heart Meridian (emotional and mental system) and Lung Meridian (respiratory system) in traditional Chinese medicine. It is believed to be able to moisturize the lungs, relieve coughing, clear the heart, calm the nerves, and help with sleep. It is commonly used to treat patients with weak lungs.
An experiment conducted in South Korea revealed that lily was able to reduce the number of abnormal immune cells in a mouse lung cancer model. Additionally, the levels of inflammatory substances were also decreased and lung function improved in the mice. This leads the researchers to believe similar benefits may be seen in people who are smokers.
3. Lotus root
Lotus root is good for nourishing and moisturizing the lungs during the autumn season. The dry air during autumn can be harmful and cause nasal allergies as well as a dry and itchy throat. Therefore, it is important to keep them moist.
Lotus root itself is rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenolic compounds. It also has antioxidant, immune-boosting, and anti-inflammatory activities that can improve inflammatory conditions such as allergies.
4. Pears
Pears come in two types: Western pears and Asian pears. Asian pears are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Pears have the functions of moistening the lungs, stopping hiccups, and reducing phlegm. According to Korean research, pears contain polyphenols and flavonoids, which have good effects in treating respiratory diseases such as asthma.
A study in Taiwan found that pears are beneficial for respiratory care and can stimulate phagocytosis to remove small particulate matter that may have been inhaled. At the same time, pears also improve allergic and lung disease conditions and DNA repair-related genes in lung cells, which helps prevent cancer.
5. Chinese yam
Chinese yam can invigorate the lungs and kidneys and reduce astringency. Patients who are prone to allergies and have phlegm can benefit from eating more yams.
Gao Haoyu pointed out that some cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may develop symptoms of diarrhea or asthma. Using yam together with ginseng and other Qi-invigorating substances can alleviate these symptoms.
In addition, some Chinese medicine practitioners also use a lung cleansing and detoxification soup made from Chinese yam and dried tangerine peel to treat patients with COVID-19. Chinese yam has become one of the most commonly used medicinal materials by TCM practitioners during the pandemic.
6. Loquat
“Compendium of Materia Medica” records that loquat can moisten the five internal organs and nourish the heart and lungs. It has the effects of eliminating phlegm, moistening the lungs and relieving cough, promoting saliva and quenching thirst, clearing heat, and invigorating the stomach. Loquat is cool in nature, so it is not suitable to eat too much or take for a long time.
Dr. Hu Naiwen’s Chinese medicine recipes to nourish the lungs
1. Lily and snow fungus soup
Ingredients: 31 grams of lotus seeds, 16 grams of lily, 1 snow fungus, appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Method: Wash the ingredients with water and soak until soft. Put them in a pot and add some water. Boil until cooked, then add rock sugar to taste.
This soup is very effective in preventing colds. The soup should be boiled for a long time. The colloid of the snow fungus dissolves into the soup, making the soup stickier and smooth, which can achieve the effect of nourishing the lungs.
2. Steamed pears with rock sugar
Method: Cut the pear from the middle, dig out the core in the middle, add some rock sugar, Fritillaria cirrhosa, and almonds. Steam for 40 to 50 minutes, until the rock sugar melts and the pear is cooked.
Rock sugar has the effect of reducing phlegm and nourishing the lungs. After solving the problem of phlegm, the cough caused by phlegm will naturally heal. Pears can relieve coughs. Eating pears steamed with rock sugar is of great help in treating coughs.
Translated by Patty Zhang
