What is good to eat on the Start of Winter?
From the Start of Winter, cold climate affects the human endocrine system, increasing the body's ability to resist cold, which causes excessive loss of body heat. Therefore, the nutrition during the Start of Winter should mainly increase heat energy. It is appropriate to eat more lean meat, eggs, fish, dairy products, legumes, and foods rich in carbohydrates and fats.In terms of dietary health in winter, traditional Chinese medicine believes that less salty food should be eaten, and more bitter food should be consumed. The reason is that winter is a time when the kidney meridian is strong, and the kidney governs saltiness, while the heart governs bitterness. According to the theory of the Five Elements in traditional Chinese medicine, salt overcomes bitterness, and the water element (kidney) controls fire (heart). If too much salt is consumed, it will make the already excessive water element even stronger, thus weakening the heart's yang energy. Therefore, more bitter foods should be eaten to help strengthen the heart's yang energy. This can help resist the excessive water element. As stated in "The Four Seasons Regulation Notes": "“In winter, the kidney water is salty, fearing that it would control fire, so it is suitable to nourish the heart.”
1. Eat more staple food, and appropriately eat mutton, quail, and sea cucumber
Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are known as heat-producing nutrients. Therefore, in winter, we should appropriately increase the intake of staple food and oils to ensure a supply of high-quality protein. Foods such as dog meat, mutton, beef, chicken, deer meat, shrimp, pigeon, quail, and sea cucumber are rich in protein and fat, providing a lot of heat and offering the best warmth.
When the temperature drops suddenly, some parts of the body are particularly sensitive to cold, so special attention should be paid to keeping warm.
2. Eating more kelp and purple laver can promote the secretion of thyroid hormones
The secretions of the human thyroid gland include thyroid hormone, which accelerates the oxidation of many tissue cells in the body, increases the body's heat production, enhances the basal metabolic rate, speeds up skin blood circulation, and helps resist cold. Iodine-rich foods can promote the secretion of thyroid hormones. Iodine-rich foods include kelp, purple laver, hair algae, jellyfish, spinach, cabbage, and corn.
3. Eating more animal liver and carrots can increase cold resistance
Cold climate causes significant changes in the metabolism of vitamins in the human body. Increasing the intake of vitamin A and vitamin C can enhance cold resistance and adaptability to cold, and also have a good protective effect on blood vessels. Vitamin A mainly comes from animal livers, carrots, and dark green vegetables, while vitamin C mainly comes from fresh fruits and vegetables.
4. Eating more sesame and sunflower seeds can provide essential elements for cold resistance
Cold weather increases the body's demand for methionine. Methionine can provide a series of methyl groups needed for adapting to cold through transmethylation. Therefore, in winter, it is necessary to consume more foods rich in methionine, such as sesame, sunflower seeds, dairy products, yeast, and leafy vegetables.
What to eat for nourishment on the Start of Winter?
After the Start of Winter, it means that winter has officially arrived this year. Grass and trees wither, hibernating insects rest, and the activities of all things tend to stop. Although humans do not hibernate, there is a folk custom of nourishing oneself on the Start of Winter. The proverb “Nourish yourself on the Start of Winter, to fill your empty mouth” is the best metaphor. The Start of Winter signifies entering a cold season, and people tend to eat foods that can keep them warm. In the south, people eat warming and nourishing foods with high calories, such as chicken, duck, fish, and meat, and some even cook them with medicinal herbs to enhance the effects of medicinal nourishment.1. Eat dumplings
In the north, it is a custom to eat dumplings on the Start of Winter. In the north, the tradition on the Start of Winter is to eat dumplings because their shape resembles ears, and people believe that eating them will prevent their ears from getting frostbite in winter. On the Start of Winter, making dumplings, the taste is different from that of large cabbages, and they must be dipped in vinegar and crushed garlic to truly enjoy a unique flavor. Eating dumplings on the Start of Winter is because China is an agricultural country, and it pays great attention to the twenty-four solar terms. "Jie" refers to the new growth point of plants. Autumn harvest and winter storage, on this day, people improve their lives, and choose "nothing is better than dumplings".
2. Eat pumpkin
In ancient times, there was a custom of eating pumpkin dumplings on the Start of Winter. Pumpkin is also called squash. On the Start of Winter, pumpkins are rarely seen in the market. These pumpkins were bought in summer and stored in small rooms or window sills. After long-term sugarification, they are used as dumpling filling, which is different from large cabbages and also different from pumpkins in summer. They must be dipped in vinegar and crushed garlic to truly enjoy a unique flavor. The reason is that ancient people believed that pumpkins represent solidness, so there is a saying in the "Book of Rites": “Eating pumpkins is also a sacrifice to ancestors.”
3. Brew yellow rice wine
In Shaoxing, Zhejiang, the Start of Winter is also the day to start brewing yellow rice wine. On this day, people worship the “god of wine” and pray for blessings.
4. Smoke and bake meat
On the Start of Winter, people in Liling, Hunan, begin to smoke and bake the famous “Liling baked meat”. This meat is slowly smoked over the stove's fire, and the meat smoked with pine branches is considered the best quality.
5. Eat sugarcane and stir-fried fragrant rice
In Chaoshan, there is a custom of eating sugarcane and stir-fried fragrant rice on the Start of Winter. There is a saying, “Eating sugarcane on the Start of Winter will not cause toothache.” Locals believe that eating sugarcane on the Start of Winter can protect teeth and also has nourishing effects. The fragrant rice made with lotus seeds, mushrooms, chestnuts, shrimp, and red radishes is very popular among people in Shantou.
Do you want to know your birth chart? Want to find out where your golden marriage is? Click on the 【Premium Calculation】 below to calculate your birth chart and fortune!
