Happy New Year everyone! January is flying by and with El Nino we definitely have colder “winter” weather here in So Cal. I want to start the new year off with tips to improve and sustain your health during the coldest of seasons. Anyone out there complaining of perpetual cold hands and feet? What about issues with chronic back pain, fear, low energy or infertility? If so, then your kidneys may be weaker and this is the best time to strengthen them, as your kidney energy is highest during the winter season. Winter is the most yin of all seasons. Remember, yinRefers to relatively passive processes, female element, nurt... is darkness, cold, inward, and slow energy (review the principles of yinRefers to relatively passive processes, female element, nurt... and yang here). It is the opposite of summer, the most yang time of the year, where things happen quickly and we tend to be more physically active.
To integrate with winter, we should be more receptive and introspective. This is the time to listen to others’ advice and ideas. You may find that someone has something useful to share with you. With the new year, it is also the best time to look at the goals we are setting for the year and how we can better reach them. The yinRefers to relatively passive processes, female element, nurt... principle also emphasizes resting, storing and saving, physically, mentally, and even financially. Are you saving for a house? Are you training for a marathon? While slow yinRefers to relatively passive processes, female element, nurt... processes predominate during winter, we should still stay active to keep these goals in motion.
Winter Basics
Here are basic concepts based on Chinese medicineTraditional Asian medicine based upon Yin-Yang Theory, Five .../philosophy to remember about the winter season:
- Five elements: Water
- Organs: Kidneys and Bladder
- Sense Organ: Ears/Hearing
- Tissue: Bones
- Emotion: Fear and fright
- Voice Sound: Groaning
- Fluid Emitted: Urine
- Paramita (Way to correct imbalance): Keeping moral precepts
- Enviromental Influence: Cold
- Development: Storing
- Color: Black/Dark
- Taste: SaltyOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yin (cooli...
- Direction: North
Winter and Our Kidneys
The number one thing to do to revitalize and energize our kidneys is to rest. The kidneys are the batteries to our bodies and we are born with a finite amount of energy (review the concept of kidneys and our jingJing, or Essence, is one of the four vital substances that f.../essence here). This is also why we see animals slowing down by hibernating through the winter. They rest, save, and store their energy so they have enough to work and gather during the warmer months. We can also “hibernate” by looking inward through meditating and writing (i.e. doing less physical exertion and using our mental skills more).
The kidney channel originates at the bottom of our feet so if you are prone to cold feet (literally and figuratively) wearing socks and or slippers to keep your feet warm will help strengthen your kidneys. Figuratively, those who lack motivation or get “cold feet” also have weaker kidneys as your kidneys dictate motivation and courage.
Our bones are most affected by the health of our kidneys, so it’s important to ensure we are getting enough Vitamin DA group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for enhancin... (for absorption of calciumThe most abundant mineral in the human body. 99% is stored...) and magnesiumA mineral that regulates 300 biochemical reactions in the bo.... Our jingJing, or Essence, is one of the four vital substances that f... and essenceEssence aka Jing is one of the four vital substances that fo... become depleted with prolonged stress, working long hours, poor sleep, and excessive drug and alcohol use. Warm soups and bone broths are great to eat during winter to ensure strong bones and to restore our energy.
Winter Foods and Preparation
Foods should be cooked longer, at lower temperatures and with less water during winter. This way, we are able to retain the nutrients in our foods. Warm soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts (especially almonds and walnuts – great for your cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ...!) are perfect to eat on cold days. Avoid cold and raw salads as our goal is to warm the body’s core. Dried foods, dark beans, seaweeds, and steamed winter greens strengthen the kidneys in the winter.
Flavors for Winter
SaltyOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yin (cooli... and bitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... foods are appropriate to eat during the winter (if you have high blood pressure then saltyOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yin (cooli... foods should be limited). SaltyOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yin (cooli... and bitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... foods promote a sinking and centering quality which helps our body’s capacity to store nutrients. They help cool the outside of our body while warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... the core.
BitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... foods are usually not completely bitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo..., but have a component of bitterness combined with other flavors (review the five flavors here). BitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... foods include lettuce, watercress, endive, turnip, celery, asparagus, alfalfa, carrot top, rye, oats, quinoa, and amaranth. BitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... flavors are protective on some foods such as citrus peels and the outermost leaves of cabbage.
SaltyOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yin (cooli... foods include miso, soy sauce, seaweeds, salt, millet, and barley. Salt is usually over-represented in the western diet while bitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... flavors are under-used. I typically recommend less salt in foods as excessSigns of general excess: Yang symptoms - person is robust, e... salt can actually harm the kidneys and bladder causing more internal coldness. For those who are still cold after eating saltyOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yin (cooli... and bitterOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine. It is yin, coo... flavors, I suggest adding warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... foods to your diet. See the photo gallery below for common warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... foods! Happy winter!