As winter approaches, people's appetites tend to improve with the dropping temperatures. Consequently, many people start preparing to nourish themselves with all kinds of foods. As the saying goes, "A summer without illness leaves one a third deficient," and "Nourishing in winter makes one strong enough to fight a tiger in spring." Appropriate nourishment in winter is not only the best time to recover and regulate the functions of various organs, but it also lays a material foundation for the season, which is of great significance for restoring physical strength, improving disease resistance, and alleviating chronic ailments. However, nourishment must be approached scientifically; otherwise, it's easy to fall into误区 (misconceptions).
Misconception One: The more expensive, the better the nourishment.
Some people believe that the more expensive something is, the better it is for nourishment, and are willing to spend a lot of money on health foods like bird's nest and shark fin. In fact, the nourishing effects of these things are not necessarily superior to more common foods like sweet potatoes and onions, which have very valuable therapeutic value. "Nourish what is lacking" is the basic principle of supplementation. Don't judge by price; the key is to identify which of your own bodily functions is weaker and then choose the appropriate supplement accordingly. For the elderly, practicality should be the guiding principle.
Misconception Two: More is always better.
Any supplement taken in excess is harmful. The saying "Taking more supplements cures illness if you have it, and strengthens the body if you don't" is highly unscientific. Excessive supplementation can overburden the spleen, stomach, and liver. In summer, people often consume cold drinks and frozen foods, which can weaken the function of the spleen and stomach. Starting to heavily supplement in autumn will suddenly increase the burden on these organs, making the already weakened digestive system unable to cope, leading to functional disorders. For example, excessive intake of ginseng and deer antler supplements can cause side effects like abdominal bloating and loss of appetite.
Misconception Three: Failing to distinguish between deficiency and excess.
Before supplementing, one must first understand their own constitution. The therapeutic principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to supplement only those with a deficiency; those without a deficiency should not. It is essential to apply supplements based on a syndrome differentiation. Even deficiency syndromes can be categorized into Qi deficiency, blood deficiency, Yang deficiency, and Yin deficiency. Furthermore, organs can have their own deficiencies, such as heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney deficiency. It is best to consult a professional doctor before supplementing, combining the characteristics of various supplements to apply them对症 (according to the specific condition). For example, individuals with a "heat" constitution are not suitable for taking "warming" substances like ginseng, deer antler, or seahorse.
Misconception Four: Replacing food with medicine.
Food supplementation is better than medicinal supplementation. It is unscientific to value medicine over food, as many foods are excellent nourishing agents. For instance, eating more radish can strengthen the stomach, aid digestion, and promote Qi flow and chest comfort; eating more yam can nourish the spleen and stomach. Daily foods like walnuts, sesame seeds, peanuts, red dates, and hyacinth beans are also excellent choices for supplementation.
Misconception Five: Monotonous supplementation.
Some people prefer to take only one type of supplement according to their own taste. This can disrupt the body's nutritional balance and is detrimental to health. This is especially true for the elderly, whose organ functions have declined to varying degrees and require comprehensive and systematic conditioning. Moreover, different seasons have different demands for health foods and medicines. For example, beef, mutton, dog meat, spicy foods, and alcohol are all "warming" in nature and can lead to an excess of internal "heat" toxins, causing symptoms like a dry mouth, thirst, and a sore throat, so they should not be consumed excessively.
Misconception Six: All supplements must be meat.
After summer, the spleen and stomach have not fully returned to normal function, so overly greasy foods are difficult to digest and absorb. Furthermore, certain "by-products" from meat digestion, as well as excessive fat and sugar, are often the causes of common and frequently occurring illnesses in old age, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, a light diet is still a form of nourishment, and vegetables should not be overlooked. Therefore, while consuming beef and mutton for nourishment in autumn and winter, one should not neglect vegetables and fruits, as they provide the body with a variety of vitamins and trace elements.
Misconception Seven: Emphasizing "intake" while neglecting "output."
In recent years, a new health concept of focusing on "negative nutrition" has emerged, which emphasizes the excretion of waste from the body, reducing the retention and absorption of "intestinal toxins." It advocates that while nourishing the body, one should also pay attention to timely and regular bowel movements. Otherwise, toxic substances produced from food metabolism cannot be expelled in time, causing greater harm to the body.