The weather is dry and cool, with reduced sunlight and gradually falling temperatures. Due to the effects of climate change on the human body, increased hair loss, decreased sweating, a bitter taste in the mouth and a dry throat, dry skin and increased wrinkles, more common constipation, a deep and fine pulse, and easy fatigue are common. Autumn moods are generally more irritable, leading to larger fluctuations in blood pressure. Following the principle of "moistening dryness," the diet in autumn should focus on foods that nourish yin, clear heat, moisten dryness, quench thirst, and calm the mind. One should eat more moistening foods such as sesame seeds, honey, tremella (snow fungus), and dairy products. For those with a weak spleen and stomach, avoid raw and cold foods, as they can easily cause autumn-related diarrhea. The air in autumn is less humid and the wind is stronger. In such a climate, the body's sweat evaporates quickly, the skin becomes dry, and water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin B, are lost through sweat. If water and vitamins are not replenished in autumn, not only will the skin become dry, but vitamin deficiency may also occur. Therefore, drinking half a glass of warm water upon waking, taking one or two tablets of vitamin B complex and one 50mg tablet of vitamin C, having some vegetable soup or half a bowl of congee for lunch, and drinking some juice or diluted milk in the evening is not only very beneficial to health but also helps prevent the body's decline and changes in autumn.
Autumn, with its high skies and crisp air, and bountiful fruits, is an excellent season for women's health care. Women with weak constitutions can choose mild tonics that "nourish without being harsh" and "prevent dryness without being greasy," such as red date and Chinese yam porridge, malt paste, and eight-treasure glutinous rice porridge. For those with a weak spleen and stomach and poor digestion, tonics that strengthen the spleen and stomach can be used, such as lotus seeds, Chinese yam, hyacinth beans, and red dates. Symptoms of "autumn dryness," such as a dry mouth and chapped lips, are common in autumn. One should select foods that nourish and moisten, with bird's nest and tremella being the best choices. For most people, white fungus (tremella) is a good option. The main components of white fungus are carbohydrates, fat, protein, and minerals like phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and calcium. It has a nourishing effect of moistening yin, moistening the lungs, nourishing the stomach, and promoting body fluids. Soaking the white fungus in water until it expands, cooking it until tender, and adding sugar to eat as a dessert is more effective for treating "autumn dryness." In autumn, the most popular and beneficial tonic for the general public is lily bulb. Lily bulb has the effects of nourishing lung yin, moistening lung dryness, and clearing the mind to calm the spirit, making it especially suitable for women.
According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of "nourishing yin in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter, with regulations for each season having their own emphasis," in autumn we should also focus on nourishing yin and protecting yang. Generally speaking, it is best to choose porridges made with lotus seeds, goji berries, milk, or eight-treasures in autumn. One can also eat more warm-tonifying meats like beef, lamb, and dog meat to nourish yin and strengthen yang, warm the blood and qi, enhance the body's resistance, and achieve the effects of nourishing the internal organs, beautifying the skin, and caring for complexion.