When spring spreads its grace and virtue, all things are bathed in radiant glory. As the season of revival arrives, known as "the third month of spring" and "the opening of great fortune," the vital energies of all beings rise. However, during the chilly mornings of spring, when the weather is still uncertain and the cold lingers, many people wake up to drink cold water or cold milk on an empty stomach and eat cold foods, believing that with the warming weather, they no longer need to pay much attention to keeping their food warm. Little do they know that the high incidence of stomach and liver ailments in spring is often related to neglecting this kind of warmth. In daily life, if one fails to take proper care, consuming cold foods or being exposed to wind and cold can cause the body's vital energy to be trapped by cold and dampness, weakening the digestive function of the spleen and stomach and leading to an insufficient source of qi and blood. This can result in symptoms such as abdominal bloating and poor appetite, dizziness and insomnia, or a feeling of drowsiness, fatigue, and cold hands and feet.
Therefore, drinking cold water on an empty stomach in the morning suppresses the body's yang energy due to the water element's weakening effect on the fire element, which violates the principle of nourishing yang in spring and can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort and indigestion. The vast majority of Chinese people are better suited to drinking warm water, of course, with the exception of those with special constitutions or those who have long been accustomed to this habit.
For breakfast, it is advisable to have hot congee, hot steamed buns, and hot eggs, eating until about 80% full is sufficient. Additionally, a small amount of ginger can be eaten. Ginger is warm in nature and a pure yang substance. In the morning of spring, the qi in the stomach needs to rise and flourish. A little ginger can strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach, "paving the way" for the digestion and absorption of food for the entire day. Red dates, which are warm, tonify yang, dispel dampness, and expel cold, are also an excellent choice for breakfast.
For those with stomach problems, it is best to eat more soy products for breakfast, with soybean milk mixed with minced ginger being ideal. Sweet soybean milk, however, should not be consumed. Furthermore, it is advisable to eat less fruit, avoid strong tea as much as possible, and take fewer cooling and heat-clearing medications, as these foods and substances can diminish the spleen and stomach's yang energy, making the gastrointestinal tract deficient and cold, weakening the body, and making recovery more difficult. In addition to paying attention to consuming fewer cold and raw foods, spring and summer are the seasons when the earth's energy shifts from dry to damp. Therefore, it is also important to eat more foods that expel dampness, such as white radish, lotus seeds, and red adzuki beans.