What should one eat for Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency? Overeating and consuming too many cold foods can lead to symptoms of Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency. To properly regulate this condition, dietary therapy is essential. So, what foods are beneficial for Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency? Below are 13 foods and 4 dietary therapy recipes that can help alleviate this condition.
The main causes of Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency are poor dietary habits, such as irregular eating and frequent consumption of cold drinks or chilled foods. Coupled with a fast-paced lifestyle and high mental stress, this can easily lead to gastric issues. Those with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency should pay attention to their diet, consuming more foods that strengthen the Spleen, boost Qi, and warm the stomach, such as xiān mǐ (rice), yáng ròu (lamb), jī ròu (chicken), niú dù (beef tripe), zhū dù (pork tripe), liàn yú (carp), cǎo yú (grass carp), xiǎo mǐ zhōu (millet porridge), hóng zǎo (red dates), and shān yào (Chinese yam).
What should one eat for Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency?
1. pàng tóu yú (fat head fish)
This fish has a large, fatty head and tender, white flesh, making it a top choice for fish head hot pot. Fat head fish is warm in nature and sweet in flavor; it has the effects of soothing the liver, relieving depression, strengthening the Spleen, benefiting the lungs, tonifying weakness, dispelling wind and cold, and nourishing the bones. Those with a weak constitution should eat more of the fish head to warm the stomach and also help treat tinnitus and dizziness.
2. yù tóu (taro)
Taro is rich in starch, highly nutritious, soft in texture, and easy to digest, making it beneficial for the stomach, especially suitable for those with Spleen and Stomach weakness, intestinal diseases, tuberculosis, and patients in recovery. It is an excellent food for infants and the elderly.
3. lián yú (silver carp)
Silver carp is a health food that warms the middle, boosts Qi, nourishes the stomach, and benefits the skin. It is primarily used for Spleen deficiency and Qi weakness, fatigue, or Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency with reduced appetite. One silver carp, scaled, gutted, and sliced, can be cooked with dried ginger and salt to warm and tonify the Spleen and Stomach. It is suitable for those with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency and poor appetite.
4. hóng zǎo (red dates)
Red dates are excellent for tonifying the Spleen and Stomach and benefiting Qi and blood. They are a food that can be frequently consumed in autumn. They can be eaten as snacks or used in soups, and noticeable effects can be seen after consistent consumption for more than half a month.
5. chén pí (dried tangerine peel)
Dried tangerine peel is a commonly used Chinese herb that regulates Qi, harmonizes the middle, dries dampness, and transforms phlegm. It is often used to treat symptoms such as chest and abdominal distension, poor appetite, and cough with excessive phlegm. Adding dried tangerine peel to meat dishes can help eliminate the fishy smell and enhance flavor while fully utilizing its effects of regulating Qi and harmonizing the stomach, awakening the Spleen, and dispelling dampness and phlegm, thus reducing the harm of dampness and rich foods to the Spleen and Stomach.
6. yáng ròu (lamb)
Ancient Chinese medicine considers lamb to be a great food for assisting Yang, tonifying essence and blood, treating lung deficiency, benefiting fatigue, and warming the middle and stomach. Lamb is sweet in flavor and warm in nature, entering the Spleen, Stomach, Kidney, and Heart meridians; it is used to warm and tonify the Spleen and Stomach, treating symptoms such as regurgitation, weakness, and aversion to cold due to Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency.
7. shān yào (Chinese yam)
Chinese yam has multiple benefits, including strengthening the Spleen, dispelling dampness, boosting Qi, and benefiting the lungs. It is even more effective when cooked with red dates. Cooking a pot of yam porridge with blood-nourishing brown sugar can serve as a dietary therapy for those with Spleen and Stomach weakness.
8. nuò mǐ (glutinous rice)
Glutinous rice is mild in nature and can warm the Spleen and Stomach, alleviate dry mouth, and treat diarrhea caused by Spleen deficiency. Dishes like glutinous rice balls and glutinous rice chicken are good options, but it is recommended to keep the flavors mild.
9. gǒu ròu (dog meat)
Dog meat is sweet, warm, and salty, entering the Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney meridians; it has the effects of warming and tonifying the Spleen and Stomach, benefiting the Kidney and assisting Yang, strengthening energy, and nourishing blood vessels. It is used for symptoms caused by Kidney Yang deficiency such as cold pain in the lower back and knees, frequent clear urination, edema, deafness, and impotence; it also warms and tonifies the Spleen and Stomach for symptoms like abdominal distension and cold pain.
10. bǎn lì (chestnuts)
Chestnuts are sweet and warm, entering the Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney meridians, and have the effects of nourishing the stomach, strengthening the Spleen, and invigorating blood circulation. They are suitable for chronic diarrhea caused by Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency. However, those with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency and poor digestion should avoid excessive consumption, especially raw.
11. hóng shǔ (sweet potato)
Sweet potatoes (especially yellow-fleshed ones) are highly nutritious grains. They provide a large amount of mucilage protein, sugars, vitamin A, and vitamin C, thus having the effects of tonifying deficiency, boosting energy, strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, benefiting the Kidney Yin, harmonizing and warming the stomach, and benefiting the lungs. Regular consumption of sweet potatoes can prevent atrophy of connective tissue in the liver and kidneys and prevent the occurrence of collagen diseases.
12. jiāng (ginger)
Ginger can warm the middle and disperse cold. It treats cold symptoms of the Spleen and Stomach, whether due to external cold invasion or deficiency of Yang Qi in the Spleen and Stomach. It is often combined with dǎng shēn (Codonopsis), gān cǎo (licorice), and bái zhú (Atractylodes) to tonify the Spleen and boost Qi.
13. hú luó bo (carrot)
Carrots are sweet and neutral; Chinese medicine believes they “descend Qi, tonify the middle, benefit the Spleen, moisten the intestines and stomach, and calm the five organs, having a beneficial effect on appetite.” Rich in carotene, they can be converted into vitamin A, which nourishes the eyes and spirit, enhances immunity, and prevents respiratory diseases. Carotene is fat-soluble, making it best cooked with meat for better flavor.
Dietary Therapy Recipes for Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency
1. hóng táng jiāng dù (red sugar ginger tripe stew)
Method: One pig tripe, 200 grams of ginger, 100 grams of red sugar (not for diabetic patients). Clean the pig tripe, cut the ginger into strips, and place them inside the tripe. Tie both ends with cotton thread, add water, and boil until the tripe is tender. Eat the tripe and drink the soup.
Effect: Warms the stomach and alleviates pain, suitable for Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency with symptoms of cold abdominal pain, worsening with cold, and clear water regurgitation.
2. gān jiāng fēng mì nuò mǐ yǐn (dried ginger honey glutinous rice drink)
Method: 30 grams of dried ginger, 20 grams of glutinous rice, 20 grams of honey. Clean the dried ginger and glutinous rice, grind them into fine powder, add to a pot with appropriate water, and simmer for 30 minutes to obtain a thick liquid. After cooling, mix in honey. Take in the morning and afternoon.
Effect: Suitable for patients with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency, warming the stomach, tonifying deficiency, and alleviating vomiting and dispersing cold.
3. jiāng jiāo yáng ròu tāng (ginger pepper lamb soup)
Method: 150 grams of lamb, 10 grams of pepper, 6 grams of dried tangerine peel, 15 grams of ginger. Clean and cut the lamb into pieces, sauté until fragrant. Add the pepper, dried tangerine peel, and ginger to the pot, add appropriate water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 1-2 hours, and season before serving.
Effect: Warms the middle, assists Yang, disperses cold, and alleviates pain. Suitable for patients with gastric pain due to Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency.
4. jiāng zhī niú nǎi yǐn (ginger milk drink)
Method: 30 grams of fresh ginger, 250 milliliters of fresh milk. Clean and peel the fresh ginger, cut into fine strips, mash in a container with water to extract the juice, add to the milk, and simmer over low heat until boiling.
Effect: Has the effect of warming and tonifying the Spleen and Stomach.
What should one eat for Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency? Symptoms caused by Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency require differential treatment, and taking some warming and Spleen-strengthening herbs is recommended. To change the deficiency-cold constitution, one should sunbathe more and avoid cold and damp environments. In terms of diet, those with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency should consume more warming foods like ginger and sugar, and avoid raw and cold foods to help prevent disease occurrence.
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