Should Winter Warmth Include "Eating Bitter"? Its the Perfect Time for Soup and Porridge
Firstly, for liver protection and health maintenance in winter, one should focus on mental nourishment, maintaining a good mood, and nourishing yang qi. In terms of dietary adjustment, it is recommended to consume more porridge and soup, with an increase in bitter taste and avoidance of salty taste. As the climate in Guangdong turns cold, yin qi prevails while yang qi wanes, and people's liver qi tends to be excessive, leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis. Apart from nourishing the lungs and stomach, special attention should be paid to protecting the liver and nourishing the kidneys. Patients with liver diseases, especially, should pay close attention to liver protection in winter, as failure to do so may lead to worsening conditions after the spring arrives.
For liver protection and health maintenance in winter, mental nourishment remains crucial, along with maintaining a good mood to nourish yang qi. In terms of dietary adjustment, it is advisable to increase bitter taste and avoid salty taste. Winter nourishment should focus on "eating bitter" foods, and porridge and soup are perfect options. Winter nourishment should mainly focus on warm nourishment. "Remember to nourish the kidneys while nourishing the liver. Because the liver and kidneys are homologous, and both essence and blood originate from the same source, with the kidneys storing essence and the liver storing blood," suggested Chi Xiaoling. One can consume more mutton, beef, chicken, quail, cuttlefish, octopus, Bei Qi (a type of medicinal herb), Dang Shen (a type of medicinal herb), Shu Di (a type of medicinal herb), Huang Jing (a type of medicinal herb), and wolfberry, among others.
Some people prefer dog meat, but in fact, dog meat is too hot and should not be consumed excessively. She recommends several nourishing porridge and soup recipes that nourish the liver, kidneys, and qi: Cuscuta Seed Porridge: 30 grams of cuscuta seed, 150 grams of japonica rice, and some sugar. Wash and crush the cuscuta seed, place it in a casserole, add an appropriate amount of water, simmer over low heat to make a soup, strain the liquid, add washed japonica rice, and cook into porridge. When the porridge is almost done, add sugar and cook for a while before consumption. This porridge has the effects of nourishing the kidneys and essence, nourishing the liver and eyesight, and strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea.
Lingzhi Bei Qi Pork Soup: 15 grams of astragalus, 10 grams of ganoderma lucidum, and 150 grams of lean pork. Cut the lean pork into small pieces, add an appropriate amount of water, place the astragalus and ganoderma lucidum, cook until the pork is tender, and season with fine salt. This soup has the effects of nourishing the spleen and qi, nourishing and strengthening the body, replenishing essence and qi, and strengthening the foundation of health.
Honey Pine Nut Porridge: 30 grams of pine nuts, 150 grams of japonica rice, and some honey. Wash the pine nuts, crush them into a paste, place them in a casserole along with washed japonica rice, add an appropriate amount of water, boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and cook into porridge. After slightly cooling, add honey and stir well before consumption. This porridge can nourish the kidneys and spleen.
