To prevent Qi deficiency it is best to consume fresh foods that are slightly cooked.
Food that is lightly prepared helps to ensures that nutrients are preserved and are more readily digested and absorbed.
- General dietary recommendations to prevent Qi deficiency include:
- Eating smaller meals more frequently and
- Enjoying meals by sitting down to relax while you eat and
- Chewing thoroughly to savor flavors.
- Small amounts of naturally sweet flavors like molasses, dates and rice syrup and
- More pungent tastes including onion, garlic, turnip, ginger, fennel, cinnamon and nutmeg are also beneficial in strengthening Qi.
- Overly rich, oily or heavy foods should be avoided because they can overwhelm the digestive system.
- Cold foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, tofu, and ice cream should also be avoided.
- Wherever possible choose organically grown foods.
Specific foods for Lung Qi deficiency
- Cooked whole grains, glutinous rice, oats, roasted barley, sweet rice, spelt
- Pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes, taro root, squash, carrots, corn, parsnips,
- Yams, peas, stewed fruit, onions, leeks, garlic, turnip, shitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms,
- Chick peas, black beans, walnuts
- Chicken, beef, lamb, mackerel, tuna, anchovy
- Black pepper, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel, molasses, rice syrup,
- Barley malt, dates, figs, honey
Foods to restrict or avoid
- Salads, raw fruits, citrus, wheat, sprouts, wheat grass, raw vegetables, tomatoes,
- Spinach, swiss chard
- Tofu, dairy, nut butters and other high oil foods
- Overly sweet foods, refined sugars, high doses of vitamin C, seaweeds, chocolate
- Cold foods like ice cream or smoothies
- Iced drinks including ice water, strong tea
