Winter Foods To Prioritize This Season!

Dr. Michael here!

Winter is associated with the Water Element in Five Element acupuncture. From a Five Element perspective, winter typically falls during the months of late December, January, and early February here in Florida, when the weather turns colder, the trees lose some of their leaves, and everyone starts the season of hibernation and celebration. It is a wonderful time for reception, introspection, and slowing down. When the Water element is in balance, it provides rest, deep reflection, and a natural inclination to store physical energy and refine the spirit. Just as nature begins to slumber, the Water Element within us gives us the capacity to listen clearly through the quiet. Water allows us the ability to be active, yet calm, courageous and gentle, and balance stressless action with a nurturing spirit.

I recommend that this time of winter be a period of intentional centering through meditation or mindful breathing techniques, along with acupuncture to balance your Water organs, the Kidneys and the Bladder. To eat healthfully during this season, I recommend gently changing your diet to add or remove some foods. Eating according to this season helps balance your inner center, support your Water organs, and flow better with the energy of your Water element. 

Consider adding salty and bitter foods into your diet during this season. Common bitter foods include lettuce, turnip, asparagus, quinoa, rye, and oats. Foods with bitter protective layers such as cabbage or citrus peels are also recommended. Black beans, chicken, lamb, salmon, and trout are good protein options for winter. For vegetarian/vegan options, consider tofu and legumes such as black soybeans, mung bean, and kidney bean. Bitter herbs such as chicory root (a common ingredient in coffee substitutes) is a good choice, as well as burdock and chaparral. Other herbs, seasonings, and spices to include during this time are some winter classics: cinnamon bark, anise seeds, cloves, and black peppercorn.

Salty foods include seaweed, millet, barley, and nuts such as walnuts and almonds. Any food made salty by the addition of salt is also applicable. Take care not to oversalt; a little goes a long way in drawing out moisture and savoriness. Soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts are good examples, as well as dried foods and steamed winter greens. 

How does it work? How am I meant to prepare these foods? They should be prepared as simply as possible, with a pinch of salt and whatever seasoning can be used to warm the inner body in small, regular amounts. Cook with less water, and at low heat, for longer periods of time. This allows for more focused preparation to help bolster the greater amounts of energy required by a cooler season. It also permits a nurturing of deep inner experiences and preservation of joy in the heart. Begin adding the bitter and salty flavors that move energy inward and downward gradually. Soups, stews, and crockpot meals are ideal during this season.

Alongside regular exercise, adjusting your diet in each season to the foods that support the organs of that season helps to keep you healthy. Stay tuned for more diet tips for each of the other seasons. 

At the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center, we understand that your health needs are as unique as you are. So we highly recommend you come in for an acupuncture treatment at least once during each season to balance your energy according to the season and to discuss these topics with your acupuncture physician. We will work together to create a health plan that is individualized and tailored to your specific needs. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Please call us at (904) 296-9545 to schedule your appointment today!

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