Foods for the Winter
Season
Everybody knows that
food is what gives our bodies the energy we need to survive. But not everybody
is aware that certain foods should be consumed during specific times of the
year. In areas like the Midwest, where fruits and vegetables are harder to keep
on hand when the weather becomes colder, this principle is followed a little
more closely. But in areas like Hawaii and Southern California, where fresh
fruits and vegetables are always available and the climate is more moderate,
people sometimes forget to eat according to the seasons.
Traditional Chinese
Medicine is a medical system that has been around for nearly 4,000 years. When
this system came into being, people were much more in tune with the seasons and
their environment. The foods they consumed were based on the seasons and when
those foods were available. This is a system that should be followed for people
to remain healthy throughout the year, regardless of where they live.
In Traditional Chinese
Medicine, winter is a time of reflection and rejuvenation. The body needs
the extra hours of darkness to repair. The kidneys are the center of energy in
the Traditional Chinese Medicine system and thus, they need to be nourished
during the winter months. It is recommended we consume foods that are warming
and that will boost the kidney energy. We also need to eat foods that benefit
the Shen (spirit) so that the winter months don’t bring about depression.
Things like soups and
stews are extremely important during the cold winter months. Energetically,
warming foods such as anchovies, bay leaves, chestnuts, chicken, fennel, leeks,
mussels, mutton, nutmeg, pine nuts, sweet potatoes and walnuts are all great to
incorporate into the diet. Also, foods that boost kidney energy are just as
important. Items like millet, sesame seeds, kidney beans, lamb, beef, goose,
duck, eggs, grains, seeds and nuts are all good tonics for the kidneys. Bone
broth is another important food to consume during the winter months, as it
supports the bones and the kidneys. It is recommended that the foods be cooked
for longer periods and at lower temperatures to retain as much energy as
possible. It is also advisable to eat more food with bitter flavors while
reducing salty flavors, so that heart health is promoted and the workload of
the kidneys is reduced. Bitter-flavored foods include apricot, asparagus,
celery, coffee, tea, grapefruit, lettuce, kale, vinegar and wine.
One of the most commonly
used foods is something known as congee. Congee is a thick grain-based soup or
porridge. Congee is used in a preventive fashion to promote good health and
strong digestion. Congee can be made with a single grain, like brown rice, or a
combination of grains, beans, vegetables and medicinal herbs.
Incorporating this item into the daily diet will improve energy levels
over time. Congee is prepared in a crock pot overnight, which fits in perfectly
with the aforementioned principles of slow cooking at lower temperatures. It is
said that the longer the congee cooks, the more powerful it becomes.
Incorporating the foods
listed above during the winter months, can be a wonderful way to boost your
energy throughout the season. And this will also help in the seasons to follow,
as the body will be healthier and better prepared.
Bishara Wilson
New York Sports Acupuncture
888.375.5444
