Big Balance --- Lungs
In fall, lungs are most active, as well as most easily
affected by this season.
We inhale 20000 times and exhale 20000 times a day.
And Lungs eliminate about 70% of body waste.
Lung’s main jobs are :
Inhaling oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide
Maintain proper blood pH balance (acid/alkaline)
Also, according to Eastern medicines, lungs absorb
electromagnetic energy (qi or Ki) from our surroundings
and send the energy to cells and vitalize our whole being.
Lungs are also associated with digestive functions,
especially large intestine (another organ for elimination).
So activity of lungs stimulates large intestine, too.
Lungs are, as we all know, working non stop throughout
our lives.
So it is important not to add extra burden to this hard
working organs so they will function properly and healthy
for a long time.
But nowadays, more and more people are having lung,
respiratory problems.
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in this
country.
Signals
There are some signs of lung problems
1 lung congestions
2 chronic coughing (atsma, whooping cough)
3 recurring respiratory problems
4 chronic respiratory problems
Try this exercise
breath in as much as possible
then when you exhale, say “ah”.
How long can you make this “ah” sound comfortably,
without coughing or anything?
If you cannot do it 20 seconds, you may have some lung
problems.
Causes
There are many reasons to weaken lung function.
Such as chronic shallow breathing, sedentary life style
(lack of exercise), pollution, smoking(direct or
secondhand), stress(physical and emotional) etc.
But main reason is the modern dietary habit rich in fat,
protein, and refined/concentrated foods.
In the lungs, these excess “rich foods” will be first stored
in a soft form as mucus, coat alveoli with it, and causes
breathing and other respiratory problems.
Overtime, the lungs get exhausted.
And if we keep consuming those excess rich nutrients(out
of consumption/elimination balance), the stored deposit
gets harder and harder, turns into tumor and even
cancers.
Visual diagnosis of lung problems
According to Eastern medicine, cheeks show what is
going on in entire chest area including lungs and breast.
1 weak lung conditions
pale, sallow or puffy appearance on the cheek shows
underactivity in the lungs.
It may be shown as breathing difficulty, cold hands/feet
(poor circulation), drooping in the posture, anemia or
overweight.
These conditions are mainly caused by hard saturated fat
such as cheese, eggs, as well as refined carbs (sugar,
honey, juice), dry/baked foods, salty foods, which leads to
excess liquid consumption, smoking and lack of exercise.
Also, white cheeks are the sign that animal fat (especially
milk) is stored in the lungs and causing congestion.
2 hyperactive lung conditions
red cheeks shows hyperactive conditions of blood
capillaries in the lungs.
Mainly caused by excess fruits, juice, spices, refined
sugar and other stimulants.
Pimples on the cheeks mean excess storage of fatty acid
and mucus in the lungs.
Mainly caused by dairy(milk) and sugar.
Tight appearance on the cheeks accompanies with
vertical lines show the restriction of blood flow in the lungs
and chest muscle.
Mainly caused by excess salt, canned fish, chicken,
balked/dried food.
This could cause pneumonia.
Brown botches on the cheeks may signal possible
acidosis, caused by excess refined sugar, honey, fruits
sugar, and could be a precancerous condition.
For healthy, happy lungs
in modern society, we tend to focus on “eat this or that”
approach.
But eastern medicine is more “subtracting approach”.
From Macrobiotic point of view, it is more important to
eliminate the causes rather than adding “good foods” to
your diet while keep consuming the foods that have
caused the problems in the first place.
Foods to avoid or cut down on
dairy foods(milk, cheese, butter, cream, yogurt), refined
sugar, baked/dry foods, soy milk, margerine, raw fruits,
juice, hot spices, stimulants (especially coffee), and
smoking
anything high in fat and mucus-producing foods should be
significantly cut down.
try eliminating those foods for a while and see how you
feel
then there are some foods that can nurture and
strengthen your lungs
Foods to add to your daily diet
whole grains(especially brown rice), alkalizing soy
products (barley miso, natural soy sauce), dark leafy
green (kale, collard green, mustard greens etc).
also lotus root is considered to nurture and strengthen
the lungs.
Lotus root is also good to clear up congested lungs.
Be nice, kind and smile to your lungs : )
back to Big Balance (click here)
back to health tips main page
In fall, lungs are most active, as well as most easily
affected by this season.
We inhale 20000 times and exhale 20000 times a day.
And Lungs eliminate about 70% of body waste.
Lung’s main jobs are :
Inhaling oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide
Maintain proper blood pH balance (acid/alkaline)
Also, according to Eastern medicines, lungs absorb
electromagnetic energy (qi or Ki) from our surroundings
and send the energy to cells and vitalize our whole being.
Lungs are also associated with digestive functions,
especially large intestine (another organ for elimination).
So activity of lungs stimulates large intestine, too.
Lungs are, as we all know, working non stop throughout
our lives.
So it is important not to add extra burden to this hard
working organs so they will function properly and healthy
for a long time.
But nowadays, more and more people are having lung,
respiratory problems.
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in this
country.
Signals
There are some signs of lung problems
1 lung congestions
2 chronic coughing (atsma, whooping cough)
3 recurring respiratory problems
4 chronic respiratory problems
Try this exercise
breath in as much as possible
then when you exhale, say “ah”.
How long can you make this “ah” sound comfortably,
without coughing or anything?
If you cannot do it 20 seconds, you may have some lung
problems.
Causes
There are many reasons to weaken lung function.
Such as chronic shallow breathing, sedentary life style
(lack of exercise), pollution, smoking(direct or
secondhand), stress(physical and emotional) etc.
But main reason is the modern dietary habit rich in fat,
protein, and refined/concentrated foods.
In the lungs, these excess “rich foods” will be first stored
in a soft form as mucus, coat alveoli with it, and causes
breathing and other respiratory problems.
Overtime, the lungs get exhausted.
And if we keep consuming those excess rich nutrients(out
of consumption/elimination balance), the stored deposit
gets harder and harder, turns into tumor and even
cancers.
Visual diagnosis of lung problems
According to Eastern medicine, cheeks show what is
going on in entire chest area including lungs and breast.
1 weak lung conditions
pale, sallow or puffy appearance on the cheek shows
underactivity in the lungs.
It may be shown as breathing difficulty, cold hands/feet
(poor circulation), drooping in the posture, anemia or
overweight.
These conditions are mainly caused by hard saturated fat
such as cheese, eggs, as well as refined carbs (sugar,
honey, juice), dry/baked foods, salty foods, which leads to
excess liquid consumption, smoking and lack of exercise.
Also, white cheeks are the sign that animal fat (especially
milk) is stored in the lungs and causing congestion.
2 hyperactive lung conditions
red cheeks shows hyperactive conditions of blood
capillaries in the lungs.
Mainly caused by excess fruits, juice, spices, refined
sugar and other stimulants.
Pimples on the cheeks mean excess storage of fatty acid
and mucus in the lungs.
Mainly caused by dairy(milk) and sugar.
Tight appearance on the cheeks accompanies with
vertical lines show the restriction of blood flow in the lungs
and chest muscle.
Mainly caused by excess salt, canned fish, chicken,
balked/dried food.
This could cause pneumonia.
Brown botches on the cheeks may signal possible
acidosis, caused by excess refined sugar, honey, fruits
sugar, and could be a precancerous condition.
For healthy, happy lungs
in modern society, we tend to focus on “eat this or that”
approach.
But eastern medicine is more “subtracting approach”.
From Macrobiotic point of view, it is more important to
eliminate the causes rather than adding “good foods” to
your diet while keep consuming the foods that have
caused the problems in the first place.
Foods to avoid or cut down on
dairy foods(milk, cheese, butter, cream, yogurt), refined
sugar, baked/dry foods, soy milk, margerine, raw fruits,
juice, hot spices, stimulants (especially coffee), and
smoking
anything high in fat and mucus-producing foods should be
significantly cut down.
try eliminating those foods for a while and see how you
feel
then there are some foods that can nurture and
strengthen your lungs
Foods to add to your daily diet
whole grains(especially brown rice), alkalizing soy
products (barley miso, natural soy sauce), dark leafy
green (kale, collard green, mustard greens etc).
also lotus root is considered to nurture and strengthen
the lungs.
Lotus root is also good to clear up congested lungs.
Be nice, kind and smile to your lungs : )
back to Big Balance (click here)
back to health tips main page
Whole Life with Jin