1. Pay attention to warmth and maintain a regular lifestyle
Keep warm: Especially protect areas prone to cold, such as the shoulders, neck, and feet. Exercise moderately; excessive sweating from intense workouts should be avoided.
Regular lifestyle: In winter, follow the principle of going to bed early and rising late, extending sleep duration appropriately. Remember, do not stay up late or overthink, as this can damage the spleen.
2. Avoid raw and cold foods, and overeating
Try to avoid raw and cold foods, as well as seafood, as these can damage the yang energy of the spleen and stomach. Avoid overeating and binge eating; do not consume overly warming or drying foods like fried or barbecued items, or ginseng, as long-term use can lead to “excess heat”. It is said that the weak cannot be supplemented. It is recommended to use some warming herbs appropriately on the basis of strengthening spleen qi. Herbs and foods that tonify spleen qi include: Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Bian Dou (Lima Bean), Lian Zi (Lotus Seed), Da Zao (Jujube), and Yi Yi Ren (Job’s Tears) (not suitable for long-term use, as it is cold and should be cooked). Chestnuts (not suitable for those with qi stagnation, abdominal distension, or acid reflux).
Six foods that can regulate the spleen and stomach
1. Glutinous Rice
Glutinous rice is rich in B vitamins, which can warm the spleen and stomach and tonify the middle qi. It can alleviate symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency cold, poor appetite, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. Thus, the ancient saying goes, “Glutinous rice porridge is a wonderful product for warming the stomach qi.” Cooking glutinous rice with Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) can strengthen the spleen and stomach; adding Lian Zi (Lotus Seed) can warm the middle and stop diarrhea; for those with poor appetite, cooking glutinous rice with pig stomach is recommended.
2. Chestnuts
Chestnut flesh is rich in vitamins and is a good nourishing food. Chestnuts are sweet, warm, and non-toxic, entering the spleen, stomach, and kidneys. The flesh benefits kidney qi, strengthens the spleen and stomach, fortifies the lower back and knees, strengthens bones, promotes blood circulation, stops bleeding, and reduces swelling. 500 grams of chestnuts with an appropriate amount of sugar can be made into a paste. Chestnut paste has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach and thickening the intestines.
3. Ginkgo Nuts
Ginkgo nuts have very high nutritional value, containing crude protein, crude fat, reducing sugars, nucleoproteins, minerals, crude fiber, and various vitamins. Regular consumption of ginkgo nuts can nourish yin and enhance beauty, effectively combat aging, and promote blood circulation, giving the skin a radiant glow. Additionally, boiling ginkgo nuts in syrup also has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach.
4. Chinese Yam
Chinese yam contains various nutrients, including amylase, and can strengthen the spleen and nourish the stomach, aiding digestion. Li Shizhen’s “Compendium of Materia Medica” states, “It strengthens the spleen, tonifies qi, nourishes essence, solidifies the kidneys, treats various diseases, and heals the five labors and seven injuries.” Irregular eating habits and excessive consumption of raw and cold foods can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, and eating some Chinese yam can help. Chinese yam is a starchy root vegetable, and it is best consumed steamed or boiled, avoiding frying or stir-frying methods.
5. Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms can strengthen the spleen and stomach and benefit qi. They are used for symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency, poor appetite, and fatigue. In modern times, they are used to prevent and treat rickets and stomach cancer. Ancient literature has recorded that mushrooms have various benefits, including tonifying qi, nourishing deficiency, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and treating skin diseases. When selecting shiitake mushrooms, be sure to smell them for any pungent odors.
6. Lima Beans
Lima beans strengthen the spleen and nourish the stomach, dispel summer heat, and transform dampness. They are high in dietary fiber, more than three times that of celery. Those who are prone to constipation and heat should consider eating more lima beans, but if constipation is caused by excessive consumption of spicy foods or coffee, increasing dietary fiber may worsen the condition.
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