As we navigate through the winter months, we want to share valuable insights on seasonal nutrition that can contribute to your overall health and well-being. Winter is a time when we focus on warming the body, stimulating digestion, promoting blood circulation, and nourishing and protecting the lungs. In traditional Chinese medicine, warmth is essential for Qi and Blood, emphasizing their aversion to cold. During this season, it becomes crucial to incorporate foods and spices that support these principles.
Explore some essential winter foods and their benefits:
Apples
-Cooling in nature, apples are rich in nutrition for lung and digestive health.
-Baked apples with spices like clove, nutmeg, cayenne, and cinnamon can promote lung and digestive health, warm the body, and enhance blood circulation.
Onions
-Onions, whether raw or cooked, are excellent winter foods with heating and tonifying properties.
-They stimulate the circulation of Qi and Blood, disperse cold, clear dampness, and resolve phlegm.
Garlic
-Known as da suan in traditional Chinese medicine, garlic is a powerhouse during winter.
-It warms the body, moves Qi and Blood, clears dampness, eliminates toxins, disperses wind, and resolves phlegm.
Carrots
-With a neutral temperature, carrots tonify Qi and have actions of circulating and tonifying Qi, clearing heat, draining dampness, and eliminating toxins.
-Baked with spices, they become a versatile food for deep nourishment.
Cabbage
-Neutral in temperature, cabbage is sweet/pungent and benefits the lung, large intestine, and stomach channels.
-It can be added to salads, soups, and various recipes.
Swiss Chard
-Cooling in temperature, chard is sweet and clears heat and toxins.
-It can be prepared by steaming, sautéing, or added to soups.
Sweet Potato
-A holiday favorite, sweet potatoes have a neutral temperature and deeply nourish Qi, Blood, and Yin.
-Combining them with spices like cinnamon and cayenne creates a warming tonic.
Walnuts
-Warm in temperature, walnuts nourish Qi, warm kidney yang, moisten dryness, and resolve phlegm.
-Easily added to soups, salads, pasta, or enjoyed as a snack.
Educating ourselves about healthy winter nutrition is essential. While acupuncture and herbal medicine provide support, nutrition serves as the foundation for deep vitality. Emphasizing warming and nourishing foods prepares our bodies for the upcoming spring season. To learn more about nutrition and how Traditional Chinese Medicine can help you on your wellness journey, Schedule an appointment with us.