Spring is a time of growth and movement. It is the seasonal transition to summer as the natural yang Qi or warming energy emerges from the cold and dormant winter. During the colder months we hunker down and eat heavier foods that keep us warm and helps create a balance with the outside temperatures. Now that we are in spring, our diet needs to once again be re-imagined to put us in sync with mother nature. Eating in balance with the seasons promotes digestive health which in turns promotes overall health.
The purpose of moving away from the heavier foods of winter and moving to support the digestion for spring is to clear out the old, leftover slow-moving food in our system and move to eat in a way that supports the energy that awakens in spring. As the trees blossom and create vibrancy and foliage, our diet should be about cleansing to make room for new opportunities. We often do “spring cleaning” of our home. It’s the same idea but for our gut health.
Recipes for Spring
Overnight Oats
Oatmeal
Spring belongs to the wood element and the liver organ. The liver is responsible for promoting smooth Qi (energy) flow in all directions throughout our body. As the yang (warming) Qi starts to emerge in spring, we need to drain the buildup that has taken place during winter. The draining energy of these foods can also help us move the dampness that has accumulated over the winter.
As the temperature warms up and brings us into summer, our diet needs to transition again to more cooling foods.
The concept of eating for the seasons, and now for spring, is to help us feel lighter and energetic for spring and then summer.
Bitter greens have an energy which are cooling and draining. The greens of spring (dandelion or any wild greens) are just what we need to promote Liver health and energy that could have become stuck during winter. Stuck energy creates heat and we want to move that out to promote a lighter energy.
In addition to bitter greens, we want to include foods that have a slightly sweet and pungent flavor. Examples of good spring time foods to incorporate into your diet include:
- Snow peas and string beans which have a diuretic effect as well as mushrooms which can also help with damp conditions.
- Carrots, beets, legumes, whole grains and seeds help support the digestive process as well as providing good nutrition.
Herbs like mint, rosemary, thyme, scallions, garlic and ginger arouse our senses and move our energy upward similar to plants which emerge up from the ground in spring.
