Food Therapy in the Fall Season

Fall is governed by the metal element – this season is associated with the lungs and large intestine. Both of these organs take in vital substances and then help with elimination of waste. Moving into the cooler months, we lean into more warming and hydrating foods to optimize digestion. Warming spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and chai are encouraged in both teas and meal preparation. Soups and stews are hydrating meals that can be prepared in diverse ways – this helps the large intestine regulate fluid content and bowels through the cooler months. Seasonal foods such as butternut squash, pumpkin, and root veggies strongly tonify digestive qi and are often utilized in fall recipes. Lastly, fruits such as pears, persimmons,...Read More

Dietary Therapy in the Fifth Season: Late Summer

Late Summer season is associated with the Earth element. The Earth element is associated with the Spleen and Stomach energies, two organs that play a major role in the function of our digestion and assimilation. Part of slowing down in this season is simplifying our diet. This means to prepare simple, whole food meals that aren’t too sweet or spicy, cold or hot. Stoking the digestive fire is an important part of preparation for cooler seasons as digestion can become damp and cool as the temperatures (and our activity level) reduce! - Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, and figs. These foods help to nourish the spleen and stomach and support digestion - Avoid greasy and fried foods...Read More

Summer Food Therapy

Moving into Summer, the season governed by the fire element, our primary focus with food therapy is to nourish yin fluids and clear excess heat. By maintaining a healthy balance between the water and fire dynamic of the body, we are helping to support hydration, regulate proper fluid metabolism, reduce inflammation, and calm the nervous system. Common foods that we recommend during the summer season: - Watermelon and cucumbers are a staple! It nourishes fluids and clears heat. - Summer veggies like peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini all have high water contents and thus nourish Yin. - Berries help to tonify the blood. - Eat lots of summer greens like: broccoli, swiss chard, kale, cabbage, spinach, parsley, mustard greens, dandelion...Read More

Foods to Support the Transition to Spring

In Chinese Medicine, food therapy can be used to help the body during seasonal transitions. So much of this medicine is tapping into our body’s innate, primal capacity to heal – harmonizing our food intake with seasonal eating is a key aspect of this! Spring is associated with the wood element and governed by the energetics of the liver and gallbladder. The wood element governs smooth flow of qi through the body, and it is strongly associated with proper transformation of stagnation in the body (especially coming out of the winter months!). Some basic ways to support the wood element through food therapy include: • Eat early spring greens such as dandelion greens, collards, kale, chickweed, arugula! Lighter soups and...Read More