Seasonal Wellness Tips for Li Xia - Beginning of Summer

Li Xia is the seventh of 24 two-week solar terms that make up the ancient Chinese agricultural calendar. It begins between May 5th and May 7th each year.

Li Xia marks the beginning of summer as the sun climbs higher in the sky and the temperature continues to rise. Spring's blossoms now flutter from the trees, revealing young fruits ready to ripen in the heat.

Summer is the most yang season and represents a time of warmth, light, and activity in nature. Humans tend to become more active too, spending more time outdoors and enjoying the longer daylight hours.

However, during Li Xia, we are still in a transitional period, and the difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures can be surprisingly large.

Therefore, we should not be too quick to shed our layers or change our habits. Read on for my top wellbeing tips for Li Xia.

A Little Bitter Love

Summer is the season of the Heart, an organ responsible for both physical and emotional health. We often associate the Heart with love, and in Chinese medicine, it is known as the seat of the shen, or the spirit-mind.

In summer, we often feel more sociable and drawn to connect with loved ones. However, we must be careful not to overstimulate the Heart.

This means ensuring we take time out to rest and reflect, get enough good quality sleep, and prevent our bodies from overheating and generating pathogenic fire.

One simple way to reduce heat is by consuming more bitter foods. In Chinese medicine, the bitter flavour is said to "drain downwards" to clear heat and detoxify.

In western culture, we tend to avoid bitterness, but research has shown that the naturally occurring bitter compounds in some foods have many benefits, including reducing inflammation, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, and more.

Moreover, bitter taste receptors exist beyond the mouth and have been discovered in a range of tissues, including the heart. Their function here is not yet clear, but scientists have hypothesised that they play a crucial role in cardiac function.

So, keep your Heart healthy this summer by balancing rest and play, going to bed at a reasonable time, and introducing some bitter foods and drinks like leafy greens, beans, citrus fruit, green tea, and so on.

Red Foods Replenish Blood

Summer is considered the best time to nourish the Heart and replenish Blood by eating more red foods.

In Chinese medicine, the red colour is said to have a particular affinity for the Heart, and in biomedical terms, red fruits and vegetables are rich in anthocyanins. These plant pigments have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and may contribute to cardiovascular health.

Some of the best examples include:

• Cherries

• Raspberries

• Strawberries

• Pomegranate

• Red apples

• Red grapes

• Watermelon

• Tomatoes

Many of these foods come into season throughout the summer, so it is a great time to increase our consumption of them and add a splash of red to our diets.

Get Fresh

In China, there is a custom of "eating fresh" throughout Li Xia. This means eating plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, or foraged food every day. These foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial plant compounds.

Try to find foods that are locally grown and in season, as these will be the most nutritious and best suited to the body's seasonal needs. Here in the UK, that means foods like asparagus, new potatoes, rocket, watercress, spring onions, and rhubarb should be gracing our plates.

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

• Leggett, D. (2005) Helping Ourselves (second edition) - Meridian Press, Totnes