The cold winter has passed, and the warm spring of March is approaching. People's constant concern is health preservation. So how to maintain health in spring? Experts point out that spring is the beginning of the four seasons. If you lay a good dietary foundation, it will play an important role in your health for the whole year. Experts remind that spring dietary health preservation should pay attention to "three mores and three lesses".
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the secret to human health and longevity has 20 words: "Follow the principles of Yin and Yang, harmonize with the natural rhythms, regulate your diet, maintain a regular daily routine, and do not overexert yourself." It can be seen that diet is an important part of this.
Eat more sweet foods:
TCM believes that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of the acquired constitution and the source of the body's Qi and blood. If the Qi of the spleen and stomach is strong, one can live a long and healthy life. Sweet-flavored foods enter the spleen and can replenish the spleen's Qi, so you can eat more of them, such as jujubes and Chinese yams.
Drink more water:
The focus of spring health preservation is on nourishing the liver. Drinking more water regularly can increase circulating blood volume, which is beneficial for liver nourishment and the excretion of metabolic waste, reducing the damage of toxins to the liver.
In addition, replenishing water is beneficial for glandular secretion, especially digestive fluids like bile. Drinking tea in moderation can also refresh the mind and relieve fatigue. If you drink fragrant scented tea in spring, it helps to disperse the cold pathogens accumulated in the body during winter, promote the rise of Yang Qi, and resolve stagnation.
Eat more vegetables:
After winter, most people will have insufficient intake of various vitamins, inorganic salts, and trace elements. For example, in spring, people often suffer from stomatitis, angular cheilitis, glossitis, night blindness, and some skin diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to eat more fresh vegetables to achieve a balanced nutrition and maintain good health.
Eat less sour foods:
Spring is the season when liver Qi is predominant. According to the Five Elements theory of TCM, the liver belongs to Wood and the spleen belongs to Earth. Wood overacts on Earth, meaning an excess liver Qi can damage the spleen and affect its digestive and absorption functions. TCM also believes that the five flavors enter the five organs; for example, the sour flavor enters the liver, the sweet flavor enters the spleen, and the salty flavor enters the kidney. Therefore, eating too many sour-flavored foods will make the already excessive liver Qi even stronger, which in turn can harm the spleen and stomach Qi.
Eat less greasy and stimulating foods:
The rich and heavy foods of winter should be replaced with light and mild foods in spring. You should eat less high-fat foods like fatty meat, because greasy food can easily cause a feeling of fullness and lead to fatigue in the body. People with a cold stomach can often eat some ginger to dispel cold and warm the stomach; those with asthma can drink some ginger honey water to moisten dryness and calm wheezing; people with chronic bronchitis should avoid or eat less spicy food. Others should also avoid eating too many pungent and hot stimulating foods, lest they promote fire and harm the body.
Eat less cold and raw foods:
Cold and raw foods are not suitable for consumption in spring (except for special patients), especially raw and cold things like ice cream and cold drinks. Otherwise, cold will accumulate in the body, leading to a deficient spleen in summer and a series of discomforts.