Article 33: Health Care and Dietary Nutrition for the Autumn Equinox to the Great Cold Period, Maintaining Acid-Base Balance

What are some health care tips for the Autumn Equinox?

The autumnal equinox marks the true arrival of autumn. As a solar term with equal day and night lengths, people cultivate their health...

In life, one should also adhere to the principle of maintaining the body's "yin-yang balance," following the guidelines in the *Suwen* (Plain Questions) chapter "The Essentials of True Nature."

As stated in the Treatise on the Meaning of "carefully observe the location of Yin and Yang, aiming for balance," the location of Yin and Yang should not be biased.

The most important aspect of mental well-being is cultivating optimism, maintaining mental tranquility, avoiding a somber or depressing atmosphere, and calming the mind.

Calm your spirit and adapt to the tranquil atmosphere of autumn. In ancient my country, there was a custom of climbing mountains on the Double Ninth Festival (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month).

The custom of viewing scenery from a high place, and gazing into the distance, can refresh the mind and spirit, and dispel all negative emotions such as depression and melancholy.

The emotions vanished instantly; this is an excellent remedy for regulating one's spirits.

In terms of dietary therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes the balance of Yin and Yang as its starting point, dividing food into suitable and unsuitable categories.

Avoidance is advised. Anything that promotes a balance of Yin and Yang is beneficial, while anything that disrupts this balance is undesirable. Different people have different preferences and taboos.

Those with insufficient Yin and excessive Yang should avoid consuming highly heating and tonifying foods; those with phlegm-dampness constitution...

People should avoid greasy foods; those with a hot constitution should avoid spicy foods; and those suffering from skin diseases or asthma should avoid certain foods.

Shrimp, crab, and other seafood; people with a cold stomach should avoid raw and cold foods. Regardless of the type of person, the essence is...

We must prevent the real from becoming even more real and the insubstantial from becoming even more insubstantial, which could lead to an imbalance of Yin and Yang.

After the Autumn Equinox, the weather gradually cools, making it a season when stomach ailments are more frequent and prone to recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the stomach...

The intestines are very sensitive to cold stimulation. If not properly protected, and if dietary and lifestyle habits are not maintained, then...

This can trigger gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, people with chronic gastritis should pay special attention to protecting their stomachs at this time.

Stay warm, add layers as needed, and cover yourself well with a blanket at night. Those with stomach problems should also avoid eating excessively cold or spicy foods.

Avoid eating foods that are too hot, too hard, too spicy, or too sticky, and especially avoid overeating. Additionally, pay attention to the dosage when taking medication.

It is best to take it after meals to prevent irritation of the gastric mucosa and worsening of the condition.

What are some health care tips for the Cold Dew season?

After the Cold Dew solar term, as temperatures continue to drop, colds become the most prevalent illness.

When temperatures drop and the air is dry, the virulence of cold viruses increases. Statistics show that patients with chronic bronchitis are more susceptible to colds.

More than 90% of colds will lead to an acute attack, therefore, comprehensive measures should be taken to actively prevent colds. Additionally...

In addition, this season is also a high-incidence period for diseases such as stroke, asthma, and pneumonia, so precautions should be taken.

During the Cold Dew solar term, properly arranging daily diet and routines is important for maintaining good health.

Functions. It is important to scientifically regulate diet, pay attention to medication prevention and treatment, improve the living environment, and avoid smoke and dust pollution.

Keep the indoor air circulating. Additionally, maintain a positive attitude and channel pent-up emotions appropriately.

Cultivating an optimistic and open-minded attitude is also an essential part of maintaining good health.

Dietary health maintenance after the Cold Dew solar term should be based on a balanced diet, and should be adjusted according to individual circumstances.

Eating more sweet and bland, moisturizing foods can nourish the spleen and stomach, as well as the lungs and intestines, and can prevent and treat dry throat and mouth.

Symptoms include pears, persimmons, water chestnuts, and bananas; vegetables include carrots, winter melons, lotus roots, and white fungus.

In addition, legumes, mushrooms, kelp, and seaweed are recommended. Breakfast should consist of warm food, preferably medicinal porridge, such as sugarcane porridge.

Porridge, such as Solomon's Seal Porridge, Adenophora Root Porridge, Rehmannia Root Porridge, and Polygonatum Root Porridge. Patients with chronic diseases should eat more red dates.

Foods such as lotus seeds, yams, duck, fish, and meat.

What are some health care tips for the Frost's Descent solar term?

During the Frost's Descent season, traditional folk food customs are quite distinctive. In ancient times, people generally ate mutton and rabbit meat to nourish themselves in autumn. In some places...

According to local custom, people eat red persimmons during the Frost's Descent solar term, which is said to strengthen bones and muscles.

This solar term is a peak period for the recurrence of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Due to the cold and pungent nature of the weather...

Stimulation disrupts the body's autonomic nervous system function, disturbs the normal rhythm of gastrointestinal motility, and affects the body's metabolism.

Increased metabolism, increased secretion of gastric juice and various digestive fluids, improved appetite, and increased food intake will inevitably lead to...

It increases the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and hinders the healing of existing ulcers. Patients with peptic ulcers should be especially careful during the cold autumn season.

In winter, special attention should be paid to self-care. During the Frost's Descent period, according to traditional Chinese medicine principles of health preservation, a light diet is recommended.

The principle is to replenish, and to replenish blood and qi to nourish the stomach.

What are some health care tips for the Beginning of Winter?

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that during the Beginning of Winter solar term, Yang energy is hidden and Yin energy is at its peak, vegetation withers and hibernating insects lie dormant.

Hibernation signifies the cessation of all activities, resembling a state of hibernation, where all things conserve their energy and prepare for the vibrant growth of spring.

After the start of winter, soak your feet in warm water before bed, then vigorously massage the soles of your feet. This will help keep you warm.

Besides keeping you warm, it also nourishes the kidneys and strengthens the body, relieves fatigue, promotes sleep, slows aging, and helps prevent colds.

The effect of the symptoms.

Because nature is in a state of "yin prevailing over yang," and humans, in accordance with nature, are no exception. Therefore...

Sunbathing regularly in winter can invigorate yang and warm the meridians. (Cao Cishan, *Lao Lao Heng Yan*)

It is said: "Sitting with one's back to the sun, as Liezi called it 'basking in the warmth of the sun,' allows the spine to feel slightly warm, which can make the whole body feel comfortable."

"The sun is the essence of the heavens, and its light strengthens the yang energy of people." This clearly states the health benefits of "basking in the sun's warmth."

In terms of diet, it's important to strengthen nutrition and increase calorie intake. This includes focusing on the three major energy-producing sources: protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

Of the nutrients, protein intake can be maintained at the usual level, and the increase in calories can be achieved by supplementing...

High intake of sugars and fats.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that winter is the best season for nourishing the body through diet. However, winter nourishment must follow the principle of "nourishing the body in autumn and winter."

The principle of "yin" should be followed, and adjustments should be made according to the balance of yin and yang in the body. At the same time, attention should be paid to dietary supplements in winter.

A comprehensive and balanced intake of nutrients.

What health care measures should be taken during the Minor Snow solar term?

During the Minor Snow solar term, the weather is often gloomy and cold, which can affect people's moods.

Avoid triggering depression. At this time of year, it's important to adjust your mindset, maintain optimism, and participate in regular activities.

Outdoor activities can improve physical fitness.

A proper diet can make the body strong and healthy, while an improper diet is a major cause of disease and premature aging.

One of the reasons is that to avoid thickened blood, one should eat more foods that protect the cardiovascular system, such as danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and yam.

Hawthorn, black fungus, tomatoes, celery, red radishes, etc.; it is also suitable to eat some foods that lower blood lipids, such as bitter melon,

Corn, buckwheat, carrots, etc.; this season is suitable for eating warm and nourishing foods and kidney-tonifying foods: warm and nourishing foods

Foods include mutton, beef, chicken, dog meat, and deer antler; kidney-tonifying foods include cashews, fox nuts, and yams.

Chestnut stew with meat, ginkgo stew with chicken, pork bone soup, walnuts, etc. In addition, eat more stewed foods and black foods.

Examples include black fungus, black sesame seeds, and black beans.

What health care measures should be taken during the heavy snow season?

After the Great Snow solar term, the weather becomes increasingly cold, and northern my country begins to experience significant temperature drops and snowfall.

The strong winds after the snow caused a sharp drop in temperature, leading to an increase in coughs and colds compared to usual. This resulted in the occurrence of some illnesses.

This is largely related to neglecting to keep warm. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the head, chest, and feet are the three parts of the body most susceptible to...

Exposure to cold. As the saying goes, "cold enters from the feet," because the feet are furthest from the heart, resulting in slower and less blood supply.

Subcutaneous fat is thin and has poor heat retention; once exposed to cold, it will reflexively stimulate the capillaries in the respiratory mucosa.

Vasoconstriction weakens the body's resistance to disease, leading to upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore, feet are particularly susceptible to infection during the coldest days of winter.

Extra care should be taken to keep warm.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the Great Snow solar term marks the best time for "nourishing the body."

Festival. Supplementation, broadly speaking, involves nourishing the spirit, regulating diet, exercising the body, being cautious with sexual activity, and maintaining a suitable temperature.

Comprehensive conditioning, including methods to combat cold, can achieve the goal of strengthening the body and prolonging life.

What are some health care tips for the Winter Solstice?

After the winter solstice, the weather becomes cold, so it's important to keep warm and take appropriate supplements to adapt to the cold weather.

During this time, it's important to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. To maintain good health during this period, you should:

(1) Don't overwork: "A little exercise in winter keeps illness away; a little laziness in winter means more medicine."

A bowl. The famous Tang Dynasty physician Sun Simiao said, "The way to maintain health is to engage in moderate physical activity, but avoid excessive fatigue or pushing oneself beyond one's limits."

"Ears" is the way to maintain health.

(2) Regular daily routine: "Regular daily routine nourishes the spirit; avoiding excessive labor nourishes the essence."

By arranging a regular schedule, one can preserve one's spirit and nourish one's kidney essence. This involves "walking without haste, not listening to excessive sounds, and not looking at things without strain."

"Extremely strained vision, prolonged sitting, and excessive lying down" are essential for maintaining a clear and agile mind, sharp and alert senses, and limbs.

He is physically strong and powerful.

(3) A peaceful mindset: This means being open-minded and modest in dealing with others, treating people kindly, being content with one's life, and maintaining a peaceful state of mind.

Believe, and be diligent in using your brain. The Song Dynasty physician Chen Zhi wrote a poem: "One knows one's own illness; physical ailment also requires the mind to understand."

"Medicine is when the mind is calm, and the body is calm; illness arises from the mind." Only a peaceful mind can maintain mental health.

(4) Dietary health preservation: Experts say that during the winter solstice, one should eat more mutton, spinach, and shiitake mushrooms.

Foods like these can nourish the spleen and kidneys. Starting from the winter solstice, you can regularly eat lamb stew with radish and stir-fried mushrooms. Lamb stew with radish...

It can replenish deficiencies, ward off cold, and strengthen the body; stir-fried mushrooms can nourish the stomach and intestines, resolve phlegm, and dispel cold.

Home-cooked meals should avoid being greasy or overly salty. Food should also be warm, cooked, and soft, especially important in the cold winter months.

As the body's yang energy gradually declines, it is advisable to consume warm foods to protect the spleen and kidney's yang energy.

What are some health care tips for the Lesser Cold season?

Traditional Chinese medicine considers cold to be a yin evil, and the coldest solar term is also the period when yin evil is at its peak. This can be addressed through dietary health practices.

From a health perspective, it's important to eat more warm foods to nourish the body and protect against the effects of cold weather.

Invasion of the human body.

Foods commonly considered to be "hot" in traditional Chinese medicine include trout, chili peppers, cinnamon, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Foods with warming properties include glutinous rice, sorghum rice, sword beans, leeks, fennel, coriander, shepherd's purse, asparagus, and mustard.

Vegetables, pumpkin, ginger, scallions, garlic, apricots, peaches, dates, longan, lychees, papayas, cherries

Peaches, pomegranates, dried plums, Buddha's hand citrons, chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, mutton, pork liver, pork stomach, fire

Leg, dog meat, chicken, goat milk, goose eggs, eel, bighead carp, silver carp, shrimp, sea cucumber, mussels,

Clams, wine, etc. It's especially worth mentioning that the Lesser Cold season is the perfect time to enjoy spicy hot pot and braised mutton.

The following are two dietary therapy recipes suitable for consumption during the Lesser Cold season.

(1) Angelica and Ginger Mutton Soup: 20g angelica, 30g ginger, 500g mutton, rice wine,

Add appropriate amounts of seasonings. Wash the mutton, cut it into small pieces, add angelica root, ginger, rice wine, and seasonings, and stew.

Eat the meat and drink the soup after 1-2 hours. It has the effects of warming the middle and nourishing the blood, dispelling cold and strengthening the body, and is suitable for those experiencing fatigue and weakness.

People who are pale and sensitive to cold.

(2) Walnut Kernel Cookies: 50g walnut kernels, 250g flour, a little sugar. Crush the walnut kernels...

Grind the ingredients into small pieces, mix with flour and sugar, add an appropriate amount of water, stir well, and then cook into thin pancakes.

It has the effects of tonifying the kidneys, dispelling cold, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. It is suitable for those with lower back pain, weak legs, aversion to cold, and dry stools.

People with deficiency of both lung and kidney, such as those with stagnation.

What are some health care tips for the Great Cold season?

The Great Cold is named so because the weather is extremely cold. Health preservation during the Great Cold should focus on "storing" or "preserving" the body.

This means that during this period, people should control their mental activities, maintain mental tranquility, and conceal their spirit.

Do not expose your inner self to the outside, avoid impatience and anger, and do not easily disturb your Yang energy. Only in this way can you maintain peace and tranquility.

Spending the winter.

In this season, in addition to paying attention to mental well-being and going to bed early and waking up late, it is also important to nourish the kidneys.

Qi. In ancient times, people often used Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) to nourish the liver and kidneys and replenish kidney qi during this solar term. Sufficient kidney qi allows one to...

It helps resist cold, enhances the body's immunity, and plays a role in maintaining health and preventing disease. An old proverb says, "The Great Cold is a time for great health."

The saying, "To ward off the cold, drink ginseng and astragalus wine in the morning and take Rehmannia pills in the evening," illustrates the importance of nourishing the body during this solar term.

The importance of kidney qi in the human body. Below are two medicinal diets that are very beneficial for nourishing the kidneys and replenishing blood.

(1) Red Goji Berry and Panax Notoginseng Chicken: 15g goji berries, 10g Panax notoginseng, 1 hen, ginger, scallions, and astragalus root.

Add appropriate amounts of wine, pepper, and MSG to a soup and consume. It has the effects of warming the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), tonifying deficiency, nourishing the kidneys, replenishing blood, and promoting blood circulation.

(2) Angelica and mutton soup: 30g angelica, 30g ginger, 500g mutton, stewed into soup and eaten.

It can boost Yang energy, replenish blood, promote blood circulation, and warm and unblock the meridians.

During the Great Cold period, one should eat less seafood and cold drinks, because the weather is cold, and consuming cold foods will cause both internal and external coldness.

It can easily damage the spleen and stomach, thereby harming the body's vital energy.

How can we maintain acid-base balance in our diet?

The body's acid-base balance is the result of normal metabolism and is mainly related to the acidity of the ingested diet.

Alkalinity is closely related. The acidity or alkalinity of food depends on the types and amounts of elements it contains.

Foods containing high levels of phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine are called acidic foods, such as barley, corn, and wheat.

Flour, peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, white sugar, white rice, brown rice, alcoholic beverages, meat, chicken, duck,

Egg yolks, fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, etc. Foods whose main components are calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc., are called...

Alkaline foods include soybeans, red beans, mung beans, broad beans, peas, vegetables, fruits, and chestnuts.

Lotus root, lily bulbs, dairy products, kelp, wakame seaweed, tea, coffee, etc.

All physiological activities in the human body require a relative balance of acid and alkali; otherwise, illness will result.

Illness. In people's daily diet, because staple foods are mostly acidic, consuming too much meat, poultry, eggs, and water...

Acidic foods such as sugar products can easily exceed the required amount, or long-term consumption of large amounts of white sugar or excessive sugar intake can lead to problems.

Drinking alcohol and similar activities can easily lead to an acidic blood pH (acidic body constitution). This not only disrupts the balance of calcium, magnesium, and other alkaline substances...

The depletion of essential elements leads to calcium deficiency in the body, increases blood viscosity, and causes various forms of acidosis.

Men over 30 are more prone to neuralgia, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, stomach ulcers, cerebral hemorrhage and other diseases.

Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the proper combination of acidic and alkaline foods in your daily diet, and to eat more vegetables,

Eating alkaline foods like fruits and controlling the proportion of acidic foods are beneficial for maintaining an acid-base balance.

To make full use of the various nutrients in food.