Nourishing Transition: Eating Right
for Late Summer
Late Summer is a time of transition, when we move from the most
Yang time of the year to the beginning of Yin time. The earth is
preparing for its next season. The 2-3 weeks between each season is the time
associated with the Earth element, and a time to ‘return to center’ to prepare
for the shift. In Chinese Medicine, the Earth element correlates with the
Spleen and Stomach, which are considered primarily digestive organs. Digestion,
as a functional concept, represents the central axis around which everything
else revolves.
We should strive for optimal digestion all year round, but
these transitional times between seasons are fantastic opportunities to
strengthen this ‘central axis’ by slowing down and simplifying our diet while making sure it’s
as nutritious as possible. The spleen has some requests regarding what we eat.
First, keep things simple. It is important to shed complexity and avoid
extremes. Find your goldilocks zone when it comes to taste and temperature and
quantity of food. Not too hot, not too cold, not too sweet, not too spicy, etc.
and not too much food at once. Stop eating before you’re full.
In that goldilocks zone we find that warm foods are
preferable. This helps to maintain that simple balance of temperature but also
assists the spleen qi in maintaining the digestive fire. Excessively cold food (like
ice-cold drinks or ice cream) can extinguish that essential fire and must be
avoided especially during the season change. Start to transition to cooked
foods if you’ve been doing more raw fruits and veggies in the summer. Warm
ginger tea, bone broth and mild spices like cinnamon and nutmeg can help gently
fan the flames of dying embers.
The other threat to our digestive fire are foods that are
considered ‘damp’ in nature. Greasy/fried foods, refined sugars, and excess
dairy and gluten can slow down metabolism, weigh down the body energetically, and eventually physically. We can see the down-river result of too many damp
foods manifest in the body as weight gain, sore joints, a foggy-head, loose
stools, and issues like candida and edema. Keep the spleen happy and the
digestive fire burning with warm, ‘dry’ foods.
The spleen also likes sweet flavors, but again, we keep
balance in mind. Think slightly sweet and naturally sweet. Foods that fit the
bill are fruits like figs, plums, and apples, vegetables like beets, carrots,
parsnips, and squash. Rice, potatoes, and mushrooms are considered slightly sweet
as well (along with whole grains which are okay for those without gluten
sensitivities). Lentils and legumes can be added in for their protein and fiber
which help to regulate blood sugar. Avoid fruit juices, as they lack the
fiber to balance the sugar.
To round out your meals, feel free to add some (free-range
organic when possible) meat, nuts and seeds, and leafy greens for balance. Soups
and stews are a great way to bring together a few simple ingredients in a
spleen-friendly way. Just don’t forget: slow, simple, balanced, warm, dry, and
slightly sweet.
How we eat is often just as important as
what we eat. In our fast-paced society, everything feels rushed. Yet it is so
important to take the time to generate better awareness around mealtime. In
simple terms: CHEW your food. Take a moment before eating to look at your food,
appreciate it, and then ..enjoy the taste...slowly. Ask your body to receive it
with love, while minimizing potentially stressful distractions. Make it a
meditation. Or at least a moment of gratitude.
Follow these basic principles of nourishment during times
of seasonal change and you’ll find yourself transitioning with ease.
Come in for a late summer tune-up with acupuncture to
better harmonize with the transitional season, strengthen digestion and support
your body through seasonal changes. We’re here for you!
