Incorporate mildly pungent/spicy foods to help clear sticky mucous from lungs and improve circlulation. Think of including white foods, since white is the color associated with the Lung and autumn:
radish, daikon radish, horseradish, turnip, fresh ginger, garlic, onion, white peppercorns, in addition to cayenne and child peppers....
Remember to include enough fiber from whole grains, fruit and vegies for colon health, as the Large Intestine is linked with the Lung from a Chinese medicine perspective.
Western Herbs for lung health:
fennel, fenugreek, chickweed, horehound leaf, nettles, coltsfoot, elecampagne, mullein, slippery elm, solomon's seal, lobelia, comfrey, burdock root, licorice root, yerba santa...
Eating warm, cooked foods, especially soups and stews is especially important in autumn as our bodies adjust to cooler temperatures.
If you've eaten more lightly over the summer, now is the time to begin building the body's energy reserves for winter by eating denser foods. This might mean eating a little more meat or eggs or, for vegetarians, nuts, beans, seeds and denser grains. Also, as less seasonal fresh fruit becomes available, eat more whole grains and vegetables.
The days are getting shorter. Eat a smaller dinner earlier in the evening to give yourself ample time to digest and assimilate nutrients before sleeping. Remember that digestive health is the basis for Lung health.
Always strive to incorporate seasonal, locally-grown foods into your diet.
Your acupuncturist can help you tailor your diet to your specific constitutional needs, which might mean emphasizing warming, cooling, circulating, moistening, or drying foods and herbs.
