When it comes to must-eat foods in winter, is hot pot the first thing that comes to your mind, just like it does for me? Every time I walk into a hot pot restaurant, the enticing aroma is enough to make my mouth water! Although hot pot is a must-eat and one of the most beloved foods for most people in winter, there are two other things that are indispensable to eat in winter. That is "salty" and "bitter". Why is that? Hurry and find the answer in the following text!
Spicy Lamb Soup
The "Huangdi Neijing" (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "In the three months of winter, life is stored away. The waters freeze and the earth cracks; do not disturb the yang." The three months of winter refer to the tenth, eleventh (Dongyue, or 'Winter Month'), and twelfth (Layue, or 'Sacrificial Month') lunar months. They include the six solar terms of Lidong (Start of Winter), Xiaoxue (Minor Snow), Daxue (Major Snow), Dongzhi (Winter Solstice), Xiaohan (Minor Cold), and Dahan (Major Cold). Winter is the season when all life lies dormant and stored away. The weather is cold, yin-cold energy prevails, and the life force of all things is hidden. The earth is frozen and cold. At this time, the most important principle for health preservation is to avoid disturbing the yang energy within the body and to pay attention to protecting it.
In winter, when cold is prevalent, cold energy affects the kidneys. In the Five Elements theory, the kidney belongs to water, and water overcomes fire. When kidney water is excessive, it excessively restrains heart fire, which can easily lead to a deficiency of heart qi. Therefore, in terms of diet, one should reduce salty flavors, lest the salty flavor enter the kidneys and further harm the heart. One should also increase bitter flavors, as the bitter flavor enters the heart and can support it.
During the cold season of winter, first note the principle of "using cold from afar," meaning one should try to eat fewer cold and raw foods and eat more warming foods to replenish the body's relatively weak yang energy, thus meeting the need to defend against the cold.
You can choose mutton, beef, dog meat, fish, and seasonings like green onions, ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, and cassia bark, as well as foods like chives, chive blossoms, carrots, longans, and oranges.
You can also add black sesame seeds, black soybeans, black rice, black fungus, mulberries, Schisandra berries, goji berries, and Fo-ti root. You can also drink some hot coffee or hot black tea.
In terms of diet, you can appropriately eat more high-calorie foods, which is beneficial for defending against cold pathogens. Eating various hot pots in winter is most appropriate. Especially hot pot with lamb slices is the best food for winter, as it can not only well supplement the body's nutritional needs but also provide a lot of heat. Therefore, every winter, all kinds of hot pots become the most popular theme foods for people.
Spicy lamb soup