There are a lot of different theories and diets out there for us to try and sometimes it is hard to know what is best for us. In Chinese Medicine food is looked at as so much more than just food, it is looked at as medicine. They truly believe “you are what you eat”. The key in Chinese Medicine is to keep your body “neutral” by eating a balance of cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot foods depending on your constitution. For example, someone who has too much heat in their body naturally might feel hot, irritable, and could battle constipation. This individual would want to avoid foods that would produce excess heat like beef, coffee, and hot spices. On the opposite side of that spectrum, someone who has too much cold in their bodies naturally might appear pale, have cold hands, looser stools and feel easily fatigued. This individual should avoid eating foods that are cold such as raw vegetables, cheese, and beer.
Each season affects our bodies in different ways. The winter months tend to be cold, windy, and damp, so our bodies need an enriching diet that warms us up from the inside out with food like dairy, seafood, and meat. Eating cooked foods, including soups and stews and avoiding cold, raw food and drinks will help promote proper digestion and keep the body warm. Inviting warming spices into your cooking will also promote digestion such as cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. Also, it would be a good ritual to drink warm tea or water an hour after meals to increase digestion, improve circulation and reduce excess mucus.
According to Chinese Medicine, it is important to have balance in everything we do, including what we eat. Overconsumption of any food can lead to symptoms that cause discomfort like bloating, congestion, increased mucus, and abdominal pain to name a few. Eating a balance of cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot foods and eating in harmony with the season are two simple ways to maintain wellness year-round.
Here are two recipes that will invite warmth into your diet this winter season!
Healing Rice Congee recipe: Bring 7 cups water or chicken stock to a boil and then slowly simmer 1 cup long-grain white rice. Cook for about an hour stirring every 15-20 minutes. Add water if necessary to keep it soupy. Add bone broth, ginger slices, green scallion onions and any type of meat or eggs as desired. Eating a cup of congee at the end of each meal is very potent medicine to strengthen a weak digestive system or a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on what you add to the congee.
Reindeer Milk: Try this festive twist on hot chocolate. 1 cup whole milk (If you don’t do dairy, almond or rice milk make fine alternatives.), 1 tsp. cinnamon, ½ tsp. nutmeg, ½ tsp. cardamom, ½ tsp. vanilla extract or 1 tbsp. Cocoa