"Food is the first necessity of the people." If one eats properly, it is as if having a health doctor, constantly helping to improve physical fitness and resist various external diseases. Similarly, the dos and don'ts of diet have always been valued by the public. So, what are the dietary recommendations and taboos for spring?
The Tang dynasty physician Sun Simiao said: "During the 72 days of spring, reduce sour and increase sweet to nourish the spleen." Gao Lian of the Ming Dynasty also recorded in his book "Eighteen Discourses on Nouraging Life": "When spring arrives, the diet should be less sour and more sweet to nourish the spleen." This means: when the liver is flourishing in spring, one should eat less sour food, otherwise it will make the liver fire stronger and damage the spleen and stomach. At this time, one can eat more foods that are sweet and neutral in nature. Therefore, during the spring season, you can eat more of the following:
1. Chinese Yam: "A gentle tonic without being harsh, slightly fragrant but not drying." It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach, and replenishing weakness. Chinese yam is a vegetable we enjoy eating daily and is also a frequently used Chinese medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is both delicious and healthy.
2. Spring Bamboo Shoots: In addition to being rich in protein, they are also rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various vitamins. Best eaten fresh.
Eating too many spring bamboo shoots can make you sick—any food should be eaten in moderation, and anything in excess will cause trouble.
3. Pea Shoots: A seasonal vegetable. For those with high blood pressure or diabetes, it is most suitable to drink the freshly squeezed juice.
4. Chives: They warm the middle jiao to promote qi, warm the kidneys, and benefit yang. They are effective for soreness in the lower back and knees, as well as for impotence and seminal emissions. Chives are warm and beneficial, with the early spring chives and those about to go out of season being the best.
Other benefits of chives—Let chives help you get rid of hemorrhoids.
5. Toon Sprouts (Toona sinensis leaves): They have the functions of dispelling wind, detoxifying, strengthening the stomach, and regulating qi. A seasonal spring vegetable, its tender leaves are very fragrant when cooked and are often used in cold tofu dishes or scrambled eggs. However, toon sprouts are also a "trigger food" (a food that can provoke an illness or allergy), so those with chronic illnesses should not eat them. Other foods such as lentils, spinach, cauliflower, cilantro, jujubes, honey, beans, dairy products, poultry eggs, lean meat, and fruits are also suitable for consumption in spring.