Q Are there foods that worsen sinusitis?
A Wheat flour, cold foods, dairy, and sugary foods increase phlegm-damp and worsen swelling of the sinus lining. Alcohol and smoking directly damage the mucosa's protective function.
Detailed Answer
Foods to Avoid
- Wheat flour and gluten: increase spleen-stomach damp-phlegm and worsen mucosal swelling
- Cold drinks and ice cream: weaken lung qi (pye-gi) and promote phlegm formation
- Excessive dairy: increase mucus secretion and raise its viscosity
- Excessive sugar: aggravate damp-heat constitutions and create an environment for bacterial growth
- Alcohol: dilates mucosal blood vessels and deepens swelling
- Smoking: impairs cilia movement and obstructs mucus drainage
Korean Medicine Dietary Guidance
At Dongjedang, we recommend reducing raw and cold (saengnaeng) foods and favoring warm-natured foods such as ginger tea and jujube tea. Combining this with foods that help resolve phlegm, such as bellflower root, deodeok, and pear dishes, is also effective.
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