Mother nature has a profound ability to produce exactly what we need at the right time. Eating according to the seasons is nothing new but when you really start to tap into the energy of Spring in your body you truly begin to appreciate the food you need to be consuming.
Spring is the “new yang” energy of the Wood Element. New life springs forth and proliferates rapidly. Trees, plants and vegetables grow upwards and outwards expanding from where life began. The resilience seen in nature of trees to lie dormant in winter months and then to spring back to life and grow after these quiet periods or after times of great stress or being damaged, such as what we have witnesses here in Australia following the bush fires, is also observed in the human body.
The liver, being one of the bodily organ systems corresponding to the Wood Element, has an amazing ability to regenerate itself after being damaged. In a normal healthy liver, the cells will go through a stage of dormancy, where minimal energy is given to reproducing cells on itself. However, when the liver is injured the cells will divide and grow. This phenomenon occurs in all mammals and this knowledge has had a profound affect in the medical research particularly in the liver transplant arena. But just because it is possible to ‘regrow’ a liver does not mean you should not be living your healthiest and most connected life by nurturing your body.
This time of year give you the perfect opportunity to connect in with what your body needs and make a new resolution to cultivate a healthy connection to it. Spring and the Wood Element is all about new beginnings. Take some time to practice mindful eating and eat more simply based on what nature is providing.
As the days warm up you may wish to turn to a rawer based diet. Raw foods is a reminder to the body of its youthfulness. But keep in mind for some constitutions lightly cooked food is easier to digest and softer for the health of the liver.
Green Foods nourish the Wood Element so increasing foods such as dandelion leaves, spinach, kale and baby salad leaves such as rocket, sorrel, mustard greens, parsley and other herbs can be highly beneficial for the liver and your body.
All Vegetables but particularly those from the Brassicaceae family are also a wonderful addition to a spring-based diet. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can still be enjoyed in early spring but best grown throughout winter. If you enjoy growing your own vegetables, you may like to preserve excess late winter crops of cabbage (and other vegetables) by a process known as fermentation. Eating fermented foods helps to improve digestive health and therefore supporting liver function.
Eating light regular meals and stopping before your full is one of the methods for moving Liver Ki Stagnation, a condition that causes many symptoms of disharmony in the body. Spring time is the perfect opportunity to change eating habits when you are more likely to participate in outdoor activities. You are more likely to be more active and less likely to overeat – you will want to be more ready to move with ease and not weighted down by heavy foods.
Increasing your water consumption is easier in Spring but adding a routine of drinking lemon water or water with apple cider vinegar may help digestion, nutrient absorption and could support moving Ki more freely.
These simple tips:
The liver, being one of the bodily organ systems corresponding to the Wood Element, has an amazing ability to regenerate itself after being damaged. In a normal healthy liver, the cells will go through a stage of dormancy, where minimal energy is given to reproducing cells on itself. However, when the liver is injured the cells will divide and grow. This phenomenon occurs in all mammals and this knowledge has had a profound affect in the medical research particularly in the liver transplant arena. But just because it is possible to ‘regrow’ a liver does not mean you should not be living your healthiest and most connected life by nurturing your body.
This time of year give you the perfect opportunity to connect in with what your body needs and make a new resolution to cultivate a healthy connection to it. Spring and the Wood Element is all about new beginnings. Take some time to practice mindful eating and eat more simply based on what nature is providing.
As the days warm up you may wish to turn to a rawer based diet. Raw foods is a reminder to the body of its youthfulness. But keep in mind for some constitutions lightly cooked food is easier to digest and softer for the health of the liver.
Green Foods nourish the Wood Element so increasing foods such as dandelion leaves, spinach, kale and baby salad leaves such as rocket, sorrel, mustard greens, parsley and other herbs can be highly beneficial for the liver and your body.
All Vegetables but particularly those from the Brassicaceae family are also a wonderful addition to a spring-based diet. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can still be enjoyed in early spring but best grown throughout winter. If you enjoy growing your own vegetables, you may like to preserve excess late winter crops of cabbage (and other vegetables) by a process known as fermentation. Eating fermented foods helps to improve digestive health and therefore supporting liver function.
Eating light regular meals and stopping before your full is one of the methods for moving Liver Ki Stagnation, a condition that causes many symptoms of disharmony in the body. Spring time is the perfect opportunity to change eating habits when you are more likely to participate in outdoor activities. You are more likely to be more active and less likely to overeat – you will want to be more ready to move with ease and not weighted down by heavy foods.
Increasing your water consumption is easier in Spring but adding a routine of drinking lemon water or water with apple cider vinegar may help digestion, nutrient absorption and could support moving Ki more freely.
These simple tips:
- Lightly cooking or eating raw foods
- Eating Fermented foods (particularly fermented brassica like cabbage)
- Increasing green leafy greens
- Eating regular small meals
- Adding lemon or apple cider vinegar to water
RSS Feed