I. Avoid excessive supplementation. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches, "supplement when deficient, purge when excessive." It is important to follow the principles of "only supplement when there is a deficiency" and "supplement what is lacking." While one can supplement for what the body lacks, it must be done in moderation; otherwise, it can lead to an imbalance of yin and yang in the body. At the same time, one should understand that dietary supplementation is better than medicinal supplementation. As the saying goes, "all medicine has some toxicity," so one should opt for dietary supplementation over medicinal supplementation whenever possible.
II. Prevent excessive caloric intake. Some people experience a significant increase in appetite in the autumn, which often leads to an excess of caloric intake and fat accumulation, starting the process of "gaining winter weight." Since obesity can lead to many diseases, one should not indulge their appetite during the autumn diet and must pay attention to moderation.
III. Pay attention to balanced nutrition. The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" points out that food should be diverse, with grains as the staple, while also combining coarse and fine grains. A single type of food cannot provide comprehensive nutrition for the body. For example, grains mainly supply energy and Vitamin B1; legumes and their products mainly supply plant protein; vegetables and fruits mainly supply Vitamin C, inorganic salts, and dietary fiber; and animal-based foods mainly supply high-quality protein, fat, and vitamins.
IV. Avoid digestive diseases. As the weather turns from hot to cool in the autumn, the body's physiological metabolism changes to adapt to this shift. Ancient Chinese physicians proposed the idea that "autumn is the time for warmth," which means one should avoid eating cold and raw foods in the autumn. Instead, one should eat more warming foods, which helps protect the gastrointestinal tract and prevents gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, and loose stools.
In the autumn, it is necessary to supplement for the nutritional deficiencies caused by the hot summer climate and decreased appetite. Therefore, it is even more important to pay attention to the diversity of foods and the balance of nutrition in the diet.