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Everyone has a different reaction to each season. Some people love summertime and the warmth it brings
and a more outdoors lifestyle ‐‐ others not so much. Whereas the cold of Winter usually inspires people to
snuggle in the warmth of their home with a warm bowl of soup, hot chocolate or cup of tea. Other folks want
to be out on the ski slopes or frozen lakes, skating, ice fishing, or even wind surfing. Each person's preference
is fine just keep in mind the basic guidelines for
the season and don’t over exert yourself and
be sure to get enough rest. Even if you cannot
go to bed earlier, do your best to get extra rest
during the day. Even when the temperature
may be warmer on a particular day during this
time of year, stay covered up. The essence of
the season is cold and it is good to remember
that, when planning your wardrobe. A hat,
hood or scarf can be excellent choices.
Additionally, eating foods such as soups,
congees, hearty stews and warming drinks are
excellent choices for the season. Still, do not
over eat and thereby tax your digestive system.
Eat only until you are 70‐80% full. Recall, that a
simple way to gauge that is to only eat until you
are no longer hungry. Winter season foods are generally denser in nature, such as root vegetables, which are
more filling. Even greens such as cabbages and Kale are denser than summer greens. Below is a list of some
of the foods that are in harmony with this season. If you are not already familiar with them, try adding them
to your diet. Seek out the foods which are natural to your locality in winter and that have not been shipped in
from far away. It is already externally cold, refrain from eating cold and cooling foods such as iced drinks, and
raw foods. Remember, the stomach likes warmth. Practice your Qigong or tai chi and meditate more. These
seemingly simple ideas can go a long way in supporting your health throughout this season and help you to
enjoy good health in the Spring.
black beans, black mushrooms, blackberry, black
sesame seeds and oil, black soybeans, blueberry,
bone marrow, cabbages, celery, chard, chestnuts,
cranberry, ginger, Job’s tears, kale, kidney beans,
kohlrabi, Longan, Lotus seed, miso, mulberry,
mutton, Ocean Perch, parsley, pine nuts, prunes,
raspberry, rutabaga, seaweed, shrimp/prawns, soy
sauce, string beans, turnips, walnuts, wood ear
mushrooms.
46 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volume 1, Issue No. 10