Eat Foods with Three Functions
First, they should provide warmth, meaning you should eat more foods that increase heat energy, rich in fat, protein, and carbohydrates, including meats, eggs, fish, and bean products.
Second, they should provide cold resistance. Medical research shows that a person's sensitivity to cold is related to a lack of minerals in the body. Therefore, attention should be paid to supplementing minerals. Chinese people generally follow the principle of "five grains as nourishment, five fruits as assistance, five livestock as benefit, and five vegetables as supplementation." As long as you don't have a picky diet, you can ensure the body's needs for minerals such as potassium, iron, and sodium are met.
Those who are particularly sensitive to the cold can supplement more root and peel vegetables. Experts believe that these vegetables grow in the soil, and their roots and peels contain a large amount of minerals and nutrients.
Third, they should provide anti-dryness function. The winter climate is dry, and people often have symptoms such as a dry nose, a dry tongue, and dry, cracked skin. Supplementing with vitamins B2 and C is essential. Vitamin B2 is mostly found in animal liver, eggs, and milk; Vitamin C is mainly found in fresh vegetables and fruits.
There are rules to winter supplementation
The proverb "This winter's supplementation will make you strong enough to fight tigers next spring" has been passed down for a long time. It's another Winter Solstice, and people who are busy with work should not forget to nourish their bodies. Of course, to improve the quality of your supplementation, it is necessary to understand some common sense about the time and methods of supplementation.
Winter supplementation is one of China's time-honored folk customs. Traditional Chinese medicine says: "All things are born in spring, grow in summer, are harvested in autumn, and stored in winter; humans should follow this pattern." The ancients believed that the three months of winter are a season of "latent life energy and stored yang," and one should pay attention to the "way of nourishing storage." In other words, winter is the best time of the year to maintain and accumulate energy. People's appetite increases in winter, and the spleen and stomach's function of transporting and transforming food becomes stronger. Supplementing at this time can better enhance the effects of tonics, requiring less investment for faster results. It has been proven that winter supplementation can not only nourish the body but also strengthen physical fitness and improve the body's disease resistance.
So, when is the best time for winter supplementation? There are three opinions: one is after the Start of Winter and before the Start of Spring; the second is around the Winter Solstice; and the third is during the "Sanjiu" days (the coldest period of winter). Relevant experts believe that supplementation around the Winter Solstice is the best.
The Winter Solstice is the day of the year with the shortest daylight and the longest night. The *I Ching* (Book of Changes) contains the saying "yang is born at the Winter Solstice." Specifically, when the solar terms reach the Winter Solstice, yin reaches its extreme and yang begins to grow. At this time, the body's yang is vigorously generating and is most easily able to absorb external nutrients, thereby exerting its tonic effects, which fully explains why supplementation around this day is most appropriate.
Of course, the choice of time for winter supplementation varies from person to person. People with chronic diseases and a "yang deficiency" constitution may need long-term supplementation, which can start from the Start of Winter and continue until the Start of Spring. Those with an average constitution who do not need heavy supplementation can concentrate their efforts during the "Sanjiu" days. Therefore, the folk saying "supplement in the Sanfu days of summer and the Sanjiu days of winter" has long existed. As for what to supplement and how, it is best to consult a doctor.
Food Supplementation is More Important
Experts say that there are two main methods of supplementation: food supplementation and medicinal supplementation. As the saying goes, "Medicinal supplementation is not as good as food supplementation," and food supplementation is particularly important in winter conditioning.
Winter temperatures are too low. In order to maintain a certain amount of heat, the body must increase the breakdown of substances such as sugar, fat, and protein to produce more energy to adapt to the body's needs. Therefore, you should eat more foods rich in sugar, fat, protein, and vitamins.
At the same time, cold also affects the human urinary system, promoting increased urination and causing more inorganic salts such as sodium, potassium, and calcium to be excreted in the urine. Therefore, corresponding foods should be supplemented. Experts suggest that on the basis of eating more vegetables, appropriately increase foods such as animal organs, lean meats, fish, and eggs. If possible, you can also eat more foods like soft-shelled turtle, mutton, longan, lychee, and walnuts. These foods are delicious and rich in fat, protein, carbohydrates, and various nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They can not only supplement the heat excessively consumed due to the cold but also replenish qi and nourish blood, making them especially suitable for those with a weak body.
Supplement what is lacking. People should, according to their own physical condition, consider going to the hospital to diagnose which type of syndrome they belong to, and then choose the corresponding tonic, so that the supplementation is appropriate and beneficial.