Align with the seasons for optimal health year-round

Being in tune with the seasons can have considerable health benefits, both physically and emotionally.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient wisdom that turned into the complete system of medicine that we know today, thanks to thousands of years of research, practical experience and trial and error. But TCM is more than a collection of healing methods such as acupuncture, dietary recommendations, herbal formulas, and cupping therapy. TCM provides a comprehensive understanding of our world by explaining how bodily structures and systems work in coherence and harmony and how we are affected by nature.

Many people today have lost this deep connection to nature and no longer can feel this truth resonate in their being. The Universal principle of this connection still exists nonetheless.

      Living in harmony with the changing seasons promotes balance within us.

Changing seasons are more than just organizing your closet to have your cloths match the season. Each new season is a time of growth, rebirth, and new beginnings, and TCM says that your daily habits and specific food that you eat need to be aligned with the season, and that will reap you notable benefits. 

 

Spring

 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is considered a time of rebirth and growth. The liver and the gallbladder are the organs of the season, meaning that a diet tailored to support these two is going to be the best choice for spring.

When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body is harmonious, which promotes optimal health. The liver is responsible for detoxification within the body, so incorporating foods that support this process is ideal.

Incorporate these foods in your diet:

  • Bitter leafy greens like kale, chard, spinach, mustard greens, dandelion, endives, arugula, and parsley helps support healthy digestion.

  • Milk thistle tea for its cleansing properties. The active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production. Scientists think this creates a detoxifying effect, which is why it is milk thistle may be beneficial for the liver. [1]

  • Sour foods like lemon, lime, apple cider vinegar, and grapefruit support the detoxifying function of the liver. I recommend my clients to start their day with warm lemon water. It stimulates bile production, it is high in vitamin C, and it stimulates bowel movements. Drink it 20 minutes before eating.

  • Sprouts like alfalfa, mung bean, broccoli, and sunflower make delicious, nutritious additions to every meal.

  • Cruciferous Vegetables such as Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli contain sulforaphane that support liver detoxification and hormone elimination (estrogen). [2]

  • The liver loves beetroots, so incorporating it into your diet will help support healthy liver function. This root vegetable contains betaine, which protects liver cells and bile ducts. Include these in your diet as they also purify the blood. [3]

  • Radishes are great at stimulating Qi flow and keeping things moving. And, when Qi is flowing, we feel good!

Health Tips for Spring

1. Detox your Liver. Spring is a great time to shake off the heaviness of Winter. Supporting our natural detoxification pathways in the liver with medicinal foods is a great way to start the season.

(Ask me how).

2. Get out in nature. There is emerging research that being outside in nature is essential for our health and our long-term wellbeing. [4]

Summer

 

According to TCM, summer is the most ‘yang’ of all the seasons, life’s energy at it’s peak. Summer is associated with the element of fire, which is why it can quickly lead to imbalance if not addressed carefully. Because of the hot, drying weather, the best foods for summer are cooling, sweet, hydrating, and neutral.

Summer is the season associated with the heart and the small intestine. In TCM, the heart is equivalent to the mind and is associated with emotions such as joy and excitement. These two emotions perfectly describe how most people feel about summer, the season for travel, white sand, blue skies, turquoise ocean, and sun-kissed skin.

Incorporate these foods in your diet:

  • Neutral foods can help to counterbalance the heat, so things like rice, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and salmon can make healthy choices during summer.

  • Hydrating foods like cucumber, strawberries, lettuce, celery, watermelon, and pears help to temper excess yang in the body and are especially useful in dry heat.

  • Sweet foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and cooked grains.

  • Light broths and soups to keep portions smaller than during other seasons.

  • Cooling foods like coconut, apples, tomatoes are great in hot, humid environments.

  • Avoid heat-inducing food such as- hot, greasy, or spicy food. And coffee (which is a stimulant).

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Health tips for summer-

1. Drink lots of water. You can keep it exciting and throw in some fresh berries or slices of lemon and fresh mint or sliced cucumber.

2. Cold organic jasmine green tea is cooling and rich in antioxidants. Add organic Chrysanthemum flowers for additional heat-clearing effect. Cold organic Peppermint tea is also very refreshing.

3. Prefer lighter meals that are easier to digest, such as salads, but eat it in moderation. Balance is the key, as you may cause your metabolism to slow down if you consume too much ice- cold drinks and raw foods.

4. Keep calm and even-tempered, try to avoid getting angry as this emotion can cause internal heat, generally speaking, and more so in Summer.

Autumn

 

Autumn is a season of distinct transition from the yang summer to yin winter. Warming, pungent foods are the best choise this season, and methods like slow-cooking or braising make for delicious meals that will support your emotional and physical health.

The season’s organs—the lungs and large intestine, have the energy of letting go. Autumn is the time to be mindful of the things we hold onto in our lives that limit us and don’t serve us no longer- It may be unhealthy habits, unsupporting people, or limiting thoughts, this is the time to let it go and move on.

Incorporate these foods in your diet:

  • Seasonal fruits and vegetables like pears, figs, pumpkin, apples, persimmons, nuts and seeds, lotus seeds, and Brussel sprouts.

  • Onions, peppers, and cabbage are great to incorporate during Autumn or prepare and preserve for oncoming Winter.

  • Ginger, leeks, cinnamon, coriander, turnips, mushrooms, garlic and radishes will all help to nourish the lungs.

  • Quinoa, rice, and oats are the perfect grains for this transitional season.

  • Avoid dairy products, especially now, as they cause phlegm to accumulate in the body.

 

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Health tips for Autumn

1. Autumn is a great time to re-organize your house and donate any items or clothes that you don’t need.

2. If you have been considering journaling, this is a great time to start. It's a good practice to share your feelings and not keeping them inside. Talk to a close friend, a trusted family member, or write in your journal.

3. Deep breathing. It’s wise to practice this all year round, but Autumn is the best season to embrace the immense benefits of deep breathing, because the lungs represent the Autumn, and they are at their peak, energetically speaking.

Winter

Winter is the time of year we are supposed to store and conserve our strength to prepare our bodies for the year to follow. The more we “store”, the better we will be prepared for the coming year. And by storing, I don’t mean food but rather “storing health”. In other words, if we put the effort in nourishing our mind, body, and soul during the Winter, we will be in optimal health the following year.

With such high levels of yin (water) energy at play during Winter, your diet needs to support the kidneys—which in TCM, is the root of all our vital energy. Unsurprisingly, foods should always be cooked and warm (see you later, yummy smoothies).

Incorporate these foods in your diet:

  • Spices, spices, spices! Warming ones like cardamom, cinnamon, and ground ginger will help to stimulate digestion.

  • Black beans, kidney beans, black sesame, chestnuts, and lentils reinforce kidney enegy.

  • Ginger tea will nourish the body and soul.

  • High-quality bone broth (I love the Kitchen Witch bone broth- found in the refrigerator at Whole Foods).

  • Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, pumpkin, Brussel sprouts, beets, parsnips, and turnips are great for roasting or including in slow-cooked soups and stews.

  • Lamb and beef stews with an abundance of root vegetables, make a nourishing and comforting meal for cold winter days.

  • Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and other collard greens- it’s best to cook or lightly saute them this time of year.

  • Prefer food that induces heat, such as garlic, ginger, black pepper, and onion.

  • Avoid cold drinks and raw food this time of year, especially at breakfast.

Health tips for Winter

1. Wear a scarf and make sure your neck is covered when you’re outside. According to TCM, avoiding wind and cold hitting your neck area will prevent getting colds.

2. Go to sleep earlier and make the most of the healing benefits of sleep.

3. Winter is the time to slow down, get a lot of rest, meditate, self-reflect, and focus on soul-nourishing activities.

 
Liat Hodmeditation, summer food, winter food, acupuncture, well-being, eati with the seasons, best diet