Do you remember in the last blog post I wrote about the lack of Mojo that we may experience this time of year? That feeling of moving through a swamp, with little motivation in our lives?
This season of Late Summer is related to the internal organs, the Spleen and Stomach, and if they are not functioning optimally then we may experience one or more of the following conditions:
- Anxiety and insomnia
- Lowered immunity
- Fatigue and sluggishness
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- IBS
- Bloating
- Water retention
- Weight gain
- Fibroid tumors and stones
- Candida
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Arthritis
- Cold hands and feet
For me, doing a daily Self-Massage routine helps much to keep the energy moving through the organs of digestion so that my Mojo is strong. But diet and nutrition are also very important.
So what can we do from a nutritional perspective to avoid the various physical and emotional conditions listed above? Well, here's just a few ideas.
According to Chinese medicine, Sweet is the flavor that is associated to this time of year so cooking with all of the sweet veggies can help to balance the Spleen/Stomach function.
To nourish the Spleen through the sweet flavor refers to naturally sweet food such as sweet potato, yam, squash, grains, dates, or dried fruits. You might try some of the foods the Chinese consider sweet, like apples, cabbage, carrots, dates, figs, grapes, kidney beans, lettuce, olives, peaches, pears, squash, string beans, sweet potatoes, and walnuts.
It's important to note that trying to satisfy any sweet craving with refined sugar is the worst thing we can do for our digestion and for our overall energy. As I mentioned last week, it's tantamount to throwing wet rags on perhaps an already smoldering fire. So do yourself a favor and just say no to sugar this time of year!!!
Vegetables, cereals and fruits of yellow and brown colors (pumpkin, millet, chickpeas, azuki beans, etc.) are very appropriate this time of year.
Warm and drying herbs like ginger, pepper, cinnamon are very important this time of year as they tend to dry out any dampness we might be experiencing. Dampness in our digestive system is what can zap our Mojo.
Also pay attention to how you eat, not just what you eat. Eating calmly and slowly, chewing well, and having reasonably sized portions will allow your Stomach and Spleen to work best.
To enhance digestion, assimilation and distribution of nutrients it is a good idea to walk a bit after eating. Your digestive system will thank you for it.
Remember, according to Chinese medicine, when the Spleen/Stomach function is strong and we have good digestive fire, then we are much more apt to experience the emotions of compassion, empathy, understanding and patience. Beats anxiety, depression, and feeling like we're moving through a swamp, don't you agree?
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