Seasonal Wellness Tips for Li Dong - Beginning of Winter
Li Dong is the 19th of 24 two-week solar terms that make up the year according to the ancient Chinese calendar. It falls on the 7th or 8th of November each year.
Li Dong marks the shift from autumn to winter and presents a new set of priorities when it comes to wellbeing. Whereas autumn is associated with the Lungs, winter is all about the Kidneys, and taking care of them at this time is crucial.
The Kidneys are seen as the source of all yin and yang in the body, and these complementary yet opposing forces must be kept in balance to maintain health. Therefore, supporting the Kidneys in winter is a key element of the Chinese tradition of yangsheng, or "nourishing life."
Read on for my top tips for Li Dong and how to keep you and your Kidneys functioning optimally as the seasons change.
Schedule in Rest
In Chinese, one of the words most associated with winter is cang, meaning "to store." The Kidneys are responsible for storing many of the body's vital substances, which is why we must pay close attention to them throughout winter.
One way to do this is ensuring we get adequate rest. Overwork is considered harmful to the Kidneys, and while we can get away with being more active in the summer, in winter these organs become more susceptible to damage.
Winter is a time of drawing in. Throughout nature, we can see trees losing their leaves, plants withering to the ground, and animals hibernating to maintain their precious energy reserves.
In ancient times, we would naturally rest more in the winter as there was little work to be done on the land. However, nowadays, many of us have jobs with long hours year-round and in winter we have little respite.
Therefore, it is essential to schedule in time to rest in the evenings and at the weekend to avoid depleting your Kidney energy.
Don't Sweat It!
Physical activity is a crucial way to maintain health and fitness and helps to reduce the risk of various chronic health conditions. However, exercising to the point of exhaustion is considered harmful for the Kidneys.
When we move our bodies, we build up warming yang qi, which helps to support our internal organs and prevent cold-related disease. But if we exercise to the point of sweating, this means that we have gone too far and transformed that yang into yin.
Therefore, we should stick with more moderate forms of physical activity during winter. This will keep the Kidneys happy and assist them in their function of balancing yin and yang.
Dark Foods for the Dark Months
The colour associated with the Kidneys is blue-black and eating darkly coloured foods is said to be beneficial for these organs.
Modern research has confirmed the association between highly pigmented foods and nutrition. These foods tend to be rich in anthocyanins - plant chemicals with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that offer protection against a range of chronic conditions.
Some of the foods traditionally recommended for winter consumption include:
Black rice
Black beans
Black carp
Black chicken
Black sesame seeds
Wood ear mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms
Laver
Kelp
Try to include some of these foods in your winter diet to keep your Kidneys functioning properly throughout the darker months.
For more personalised seasonal wellbeing advice, you can book a holistic health coaching session via the contact page.
References
买雯婷 (2011) 第一养生药膳 - Tangmark Publishing and Distribution, Beijing