Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that "spring is for birth, summer for growth, autumn for harvest, and winter for storage." Winter is the ideal season to nourish the body, making it less susceptible to illness. Below, the editor will introduce three winter nourishing and energizing foods and their health benefits.
Nourishing Foods
1. White Radish: Clears heat and resolves phlegm
As the saying goes: "Eat radish in winter, ginger in summer; a radish in November is worth ginseng." White radish is a seasonal winter vegetable and an excellent ingredient for health maintenance. In TCM, the lungs are considered a delicate organ, the first to be attacked by external pathogens, and require special care after the start of winter. White radish is cool in nature, sweet and pungent in flavor, and targets the lung and stomach meridians. It is particularly suitable for those with lung and stomach heat, excess phlegm, bloating, food stagnation, indigestion, and difficult urination or bowel movements. In terms of consumption, it has two best partners: for a cough-relieving effect, pair it with rock sugar to achieve the effects of resolving phlegm, moistening the lungs, harmonizing the middle jiao, and stopping coughs; to relieve symptoms of a dry, sore throat, you can boil white radish with Chinese olives and drink it as a tea, which can effectively soothe a sore throat caused by excessive lung and stomach heat.
It should be noted that because white radish is cool in nature, individuals with a weak spleen and stomach, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, or loose stools should not consume it in large quantities. Additionally, radish should not be eaten with tonic herbs, as its downward-qi and food-resolving properties can be too dispersing, potentially hindering the absorption of qi-tonic herbs like ginseng and astragalus.
Radish and Bone Soup
Extended Reading: A Complete Guide to Eating White Radish
2. Gordon Euryale Seed: Strengthens the spleen and expels dampness
Gordon Euryale Seed, also known as fox nut or Gordon Euryale, is a highly nourishing food that can strengthen the spleen, expel dampness, secure the kidneys, and stop diarrhea. It has the advantage of being nourishing but not harsh, and preventing dryness without being greasy, aligning with the traditional concept of "winter nourishment." Su Dongpo, a famous poet and scholar, emphasized eating Gordon Euryale Seed in his health regimen.
Fresh or soaked dried Gordon Euryale Seeds can be chewed directly. They can also be cooked with lotus seed, Poria cocos, and Chinese yam to make a "Four Gods Soup," which has the effects of strengthening the spleen, promoting urination to drain dampness, and nourishing the kidneys. This soup is suitable for most people. Those who often stay up late, have acne, get mouth sores, or suffer from constipation are especially suited to drinking Four Gods Soup to nourish yin, secure the spleen and stomach, and stabilize the digestive system. It's worth reminding that Gordon Euryale Seeds should not be consumed in excess at once, as it may cause constipation. Furthermore, peeling fresh Gordon Euryale Seeds and freezing them can extend their shelf life.
Spleen-Strengthening and Deficiency-Nourishing Congee
Extended Reading: A Complete Guide to Eating Gordon Euryale Seed
3. Jujube: Tonifies the middle jiao and qi
Jujubes offer numerous health benefits. There's a folk saying: "Eat three jujubes a day, and you'll never show your age." In TCM, jujubes are considered sweet and warm in nature, capable of tonifying the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), replenishing qi, nourishing blood, and calming the spirit, making them an excellent winter tonic. They are rich in iron, which can promote blood circulation. They are suitable for post-illness weakness, anemia patients, and women who experience cold hands and feet in winter to regulate their bodies. It is recommended to stir-fry red dates in an iron wok and then steep them in water to drink, which can treat stomach cold and pain. Adding longan to red date water to make a tea can have the effects of nourishing blood and qi.
It is worth noting that for individuals with a weak spleen and stomach, eating raw jujubes can stimulate excessive stomach acid, leading to stomach pain. Therefore, it's better to cook them. You can make a black fungus and red date blood-nourishing soup with a few red dates, a handful of black fungus, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar, or cook a congee with red dates, angelica, and brown rice. Although jujubes are good, their skin is high in fiber and not easily digested. Eating too many at once can easily cause bloating, so it's advisable to consume them in moderation.
Sweet Double-Steamed Jujubes
Extended Reading: A Complete Guide to Eating Jujube
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