5 Tips for Feeling Good During Spring

After a long hibernation, enjoying the darker, quieter hours of winter, I am back with the spring!

Spring has officially sprung: the weather is getting warmer, plants are blooming, and the days are getting longer. The Spring is a time of renewal, when the energy that has been resting and collecting during winter, has built up the momentum to literally spring forth. Dormant plants and animals begin to emerge, as energy moves from a contracted state to a more expansive one. Our bodies follow this pattern as well. The Spring is ruled by the Wood Element which governs the Liver. The Wood of the Liver is rising and expanding along with the plants outside. This can overstimulate the Liver causing health challenges such as:

• Irritability and anger

• Headaches and migraines

• Rashes and skin eruptions

• Depression

• Digestive issues (bloating, indigestion, heartburn)

• Worsening of PMS or female health issues

• Insomnia

Luckily there are many ways to help soothe our Livers and reestablish balance during the season of the Wood Element.

5 tips for staying healthy during the spring time

1. Move your body! Make sure to get a little exercise every day, whether it be going for a walk, dancing to music, working out, yoga, tai chi, jogging, hiking, etc. Moving the body, moves the blood, which moves the qi, also moving the Liver qi. Stuck Liver qi makes us feel stuck, stagnant, and irritable, so get that energy moving!

2. Eat your greens. The Liver and the Wood Element are ruled by the color green. Eating fresh, organic greens will help decongest the Liver. Try making a soup or smoothie and blending in spinach, kale, or your favorite green food. Try adding a small salad to each meal. Have a green juice. If having digestive issues, don’t overdo raw greens or consume too many sugary smoothies/juices, and instead add to a soup or gently cook before eating.

3. Tap both sides of the abdomen and brush down while breathing deeply. The Liver is on the right and the Spleen is on the left, so this will help activate both organs, moving out any heat or dampness. This move is great if you’re having digestive issues or any of the Liver symptoms listed above.

4. Do some spring cleaning. Since this is the season of renewal, it is a time for taking in the new and releasing the old. This can mean changing our diets and eliminating unhealthy foods. This can also literally mean cleaning our homes and closets and getting rid of what is no longer needed. It’s also a great time for forming new habits and patterns. Make a list of 5 things you want to do or change this spring and stick with it!

5. Drink more water and less alcohol and caffeine. Water helps flush out toxins, hydrating the body. Caffeine and alcohol are considered “hot” in Chinese Medicine and can aggravate an overstimulated liver and also encourage dehydration, so best to consume in moderation.

Food as Medicine - Eating According to the Season (Part II)

In my last post (Food as Medicine Part I), I covered how Chinese Medicine views diet and listed foods and behaviors to avoid. In this post, I'd like to focus on eating according to the seasons and the Five Element System. 

To recap the last post, the Spleen and digestive system enjoy staying warm and dry, so as so it is best to avoid eating too many cold, heavy, raw, or damp foods such as processed sugar, refined carbohydrates, dairy, bananas, ice cream, cold foods, iced drinks, and fried/greasy foods.

Eat according to the season.
The Spleen enjoys when we eat according to the season. This means that we only eat what is available during that season and geographic region. Since most of us have access to grocery stores that carry everything, no matter the season, it's more realistic to try to limit (and maybe not completely eliminate) foods not in season.

For example, if you live in NY and it is winter, it is unlikely that summer fruits, such as strawberries, are being grown locally. If you live in non-tropical regions, it also unlikely tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, and papaya are being grown. This doesn't mean to stop eating these foods altogether, but it's good to be mindful, in case there are health issues. If you're curious, this website lists foods grown by location and season, to see what is seasonably available where you live:
https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

Eating according to the seasons also means to consume foods that are in harmony with the current season according to the Five Element System. Each season is represented by an element from the Five Element System. emphasizing a particular Organ. Below is a list of each season represented by an Organ and Element, listing the foods that are most beneficial for that season. 

Winter
Winter is represented by the Kidneys or Water Element. The winter is a time of slower movement and introspection requiring warming and nourishing foods. We should also make sure to consume an adequate amount of salt (unprocessed sea salt or pink salt).

The Kidneys like:

• Salty foods such as miso, tamari, and lacto-fermented sauerkraut

• Black/blue foods such as black beans, black lentils, blackberries, blueberries

• Kidney shaped foods such as kidney beans (and most other beans/seeds)

• Seaweed, sea vegetables

• Wild caught or responsibly farmed fish, nourishing soups

• Warming spices such as ginger and cinnamon

• Walnuts

• Root vegetables

Spring
The Spring is represented by the Liver or Wood Element. The Spring is a time of renewal and growth, so we want to eat foods that encourage healthy Liver and Gallbladder function. During this time of Spring cleaning, we want to emphasize eating light, green foods, and sour foods to help detoxify the Liver. 

The Liver likes: 

• Sour foods such as lacto-fermented sauerkraut and lemon

• Green foods such as kale, spinach, swiss chard, and broccoli

• Radish

• Young plants such as sprouts and spring onions

• Spirulina and seaweed

Summer
The Summer is represented by the Heart or Fire Element. The Summer is a time of outward movement, activity, and transformation, so we want to eat foods that encourage Heart and Small Intestine health. It is also beneficial to eat cooling foods such as cucumber, apple, watermelon, mint, fresh vegetables and fruits, and tofu.

The Heart likes: 

• Bitter foods such as lemon and broccoli rabe

• Bitter leafy greens such as swiss chard and dandelion greens

• Red foods such as radish, beets, and watermelon

Late Summer
The Late Summer is the last part of the Summer in August (also known as Indian Summer) represented by the Spleen or Earth Element. These are the last few weeks of Summer when the Earth helps us prepare and balance ourselves in anticipation for the inward shift to Fall and Winter. This is the time that we want to nourish the Spleen, eating sweet, yellow/orange foods and root vegetables.

The Spleen likes: 

• Sweet foods such as sweet potato and carrots

• Orange/yellow foods such as squash, carrot, sweet potato, and pumpkin

• Easy to digest soups

• Root vegetables such as rutabaga, turnip, and beets

• Warming foods such as garlic, onions, and chives

• Warming spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and clove

Autumn
Autumn is the season that prepares us for the Winter. It is a time of refinement and preparation, ensuring necessary resources are utilized, while waste or unnecessary items are discarded. This season is represented by the Lungs or the Metal Element. During this time, we should continue to eat Spleen friendly foods, while adding foods to nourish the Lungs. The Lungs rule the Immune System, so this is a time to give them a boost to prevent colds and flu. This is also why colds and flu happen frequently during this time. 

The lungs like:

• Pungent spicy foods such as onions, garlic, and radish

• White foods such as turnip, cauliflower, and daikon radish

• Easy to digest soups

• Warming spices such as ginger, cardamom, clove, and cinnamon

• Asian pears and pears are great for lung dryness conditions such as a dry throat or dry cough

Stay tuned for Part III of my Food as Medicine series!