Chinese Name: 葫芦瓜
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, kidney, lung
Properties: Promotes urination, relieves swelling, disperses clots
Best Use For: Relieving water retention in legs and stomach
Serving Per Day For One Person: 9 to 30g
Dietary Caution: People with loose stools should avoid consuming gourd
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution
Chinese Name: 苦瓜
Thermal Nature: Cold
Flavor: Bitter
Organ Meridian: Spleen, heart, lung
Properties: Cools body, brighten eyes, helps with detoxification
Best Use For: Quenching thirst from summer heat, relieving swelling or pain in the eyes
Serving Per Day For One Person: 30 to 60g
Dietary Caution: People with weak spleen and stomach (loose stools) should avoid consuming bitter gourd.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution
Chinese Name: 黄瓜
Thermal Nature: Cooling
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, lung
Properties: Cools the body, promotes urination, helps with detoxification
Best Use For: Treating heat-related illness, easing thirst, relieving water retention, treating low frequency of urination
Dietary Caution: People who have just recovered from illness should avoid consuming cucumber
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution
Chinese Name: 南瓜
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Lung, spleen, stomach
Properties: Detoxifies and relieves swelling
Best Use For: Reduce swelling and pain in the body
Dietary Caution: People with Qi deficiency body constitution should avoid consuming pumpkin
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution
Also Known As: Tofu
Chinese Name: 豆腐
Thermal Nature: Cooling
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, large intestine
Properties: Cools the body and helps with detoxification, increases fluid production in body and promotes energy
Best Use For: Relieving swollen eye area and cough (heaty-type)
Dietary Caution: People with gout should avoid eating beancurd as it contains purine
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution, Yin deficiency body constitution, Qi deficiency body constitution
Chinese Name: 豇 豆 (jiang dou)
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet, salty
Organ Meridian: Spleen, kidney
Properties: Strengthen spleen, remove excessive liquids from spleen, strengthen kidney
Best Use For: Weakness in spleen and kidney, recommended for people who experience frequent urination and lower back pain
Serving Per Day For One Person: 30 to 60g
Dietary Caution: People who have hard stools should avoid consuming cowpea
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution
Chinese Name: 蚕豆
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet, pungent (slight)
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach
Properties: Strengthen spleen, encourage urination, detoxify and relieve swelling
Best Use For: Relieving water retention and detoxification purposes
Serving Per Day For One Person: 30 to 60g
Dietary Caution: As some people may have allergy to broad beans, start with a smaller quantity when consuming it for the first time. Overconsumption can lead to bloated stomach.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution
Chinese Name: 豌豆
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach
Properties: Relieve vomiting, increase breast milk supply, help with detoxification
Best Use For: Treating vomiting, increasing breast milk supply, treating water retention
Serving Per Day For One Person: 60 to 125g
Dietary Caution: None
Suitable For: All types of body constitution
Chinese Name: 白扁豆，眉豆
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach
Properties: Strengthen spleen, remove excess liquids in body, reduce heatiness
Best Use For: Removing excess liquids in spleen, recommended for people with loose stools
Serving Per Day For One Person: 10 to 15g
Dietary Caution: Avoid overconsumption of white lentils as it will hurt the spleen. For spleen strengthening, white lentils should be pan fried before consumption.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution
Chinese Name: 赤小豆
Thermal Nature: Cold (Slight)
Flavor: Sweet, sour
Organ Meridian: Heart, small intestine, spleen
Properties: Encourages urination, relieves water retention, cools the body and helps with detoxification
Best Use For: Treating water retention (especially lower part of the body)
Serving Per Day For One Person: 10 to 30g
Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency should avoid consuming red beans
Special Note: There are two sizes of red beans in the market. The one that is mentioned here is the smaller, rounder type.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution