10/10/2025
Autumn is the season where everything contracts and moves downwards; a time when, for example, leaves turn drier and fall to the ground and tree sap travels down into the branches, trunks and roots.
The drying effects of autumn can increase the likelihood of us getting dry skin, eczema, asthma, respiratory infections, constipation and stiff joints – things I’m sure we would all like to reduce or avoid.
In Chinese Medicine, the autumn diet aims to counteract the dryness of this season. During this time of the year I often recommend to my clients to eat warm, cooked, moistening foods. It’s also beneficial to cook foods at a lower heat, for longer periods of time.
To alleviate dryness and support the lungs try adding moistening foods such as poached or stewed apples, pears and persimmons. In addition, adding tofu, spinach, barley, millet, almonds, sesame seeds, pinenuts, peanuts, eggs, pork, herring, crab, oyster, mussel and honey can be helpful at counteracting dryness.
White foods, such as cauliflower, turnip, leek, potatoes, white cabbage, white mushrooms, onion, rice and oats are great to incorporate into your diet at this time of the year.
Foods with pungent or acrid flavours are also strongly recommended during autumn, as they build “Defensive Qi” or immunity, stimulate circulation and disperse mucus. Garlic, ginger, onions, horseradish and white peppercorn fall into this category. If you feel yourself coming down with a cold; ginger, honey and onion teas can work wonders!
If you have any delicious recipes that incorporate some of these foods, I would love for you to share them in the comments section below.
I will be posting some of my favourite tried and tested recipes soon, so watch this space! X
