{"id":3262,"date":"2011-06-15T23:55:00","date_gmt":"2011-06-16T03:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=3262"},"modified":"2011-12-07T01:08:06","modified_gmt":"2011-12-07T06:08:06","slug":"seasonal-harmony-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=3262","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Harmony"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Seasonal Harmony<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by Ellasara Kling<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"An axiom of Chinese medicine is: Prevention is the best cure<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Part of prevention is adapting a healthy lifestyle that includes rest, exercise, and eating appropriately. Now that the warm weather is here, cold drinks and foods are readily available at almost all times. We ingest them without a thought about what messages our bodies are receiving from these icy foods and drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Stomach\u2019s natural internal temperature is slightly higher than the rest of our body and this hollow organ acts as if it were a soup pot \u2013 cauldron.\u00a0 In its way, it \u201ccooks\u201d the food and drink we send to it. It loves warm things that is its nature. But when we give it cold foods especially in excess, it gets the message to \u201cstop\u201d its activity. Cold has the effect of causing constriction. Chinese medicine informs us that it can stop or slow down the flow of Qi in the body.\u00a0 When we drink an icy liquid, eat a raw cold salad (for example) we give our stomach the message to stop its activity, while simultaneously giving it work to do \u2013 digest the cold liquid or cold solid food.\u00a0 These are actions that are not consistent with cooperating with our body\u2019s energy systems and can weaken them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following Five Element Theory, the relationship between the Spleen\/Stomach and the other energy systems is actually quite beautiful and complex. For now, let\u2019s take a small look at what might occur when we weaken our Spleen\/Stomach energy system through too much cold. One possible effect is to open the door for the Liver\/Gall Bladder to over control the Stomach\/Spleen. This over control could result in Qi deficiency in the stomach, which, according to Chinese medicine, would have a variety of digestive symptoms including, a dull pain in the stomach, bloating, cold hands\/feet, migraine headaches across the front of the forehead, and weight problems as some possibilities. There are many different patterns that can emerge from weakened Stomach Qi and many different possible causes of this energy deficiency. Too many cold foods\/drinks could inhibit your stomach\u2019s function by weakening its energy and causing other subsidiary problems\/symptoms, some of which, such as weight gain, may seem unrelated. We always have to go back to what is the message that we are giving our body with what we are eating and what is the effect of that message.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another effect of the excessive cold food\/drink message is that it causes the body to use more of its Qi to overcome the coldness. Consequently, Qi that could be used for building and saving energy is diverted to strengthening the Stomach\/Spleen system.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the recipe section are salads of a different type that are eaten at room temperature and made from cooked vegetables.\u00a0 Give it a try, make up your own combinations, and have fun!<\/span><\/p>\n

Eat Seasonal, Buy Local, Think Global!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

EARLY SUMMER FOODS<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Some Foods that are harmonious with Early Summer include<\/span><\/strong>: apricot, beet, bitter melon, black coffee, broccoli, celery, coffee, cucumber, dark, unsweetened chocolate, escarole, ginger, job’s tears, lettuces such as boston, chicory, endive & romaine, lemon balm, loquat, lotus root, lotus seed, mulberries, mung bean, okra, peach, peppermint, persimmons, pumpkin, radishes, red lentils, red peppers, red plums, rhubarb, soy beans, spinach, strawberry, summer squashes, tamarind, teas, tomato, water chestnuts, watermelon, Chinese yam, zucchini, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n

RECIPES:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With all cooked salads, be careful not to overcook the vegetables. You want them to maintain some \u201cbite\u201d and be a bright color.\u00a0 I have purposely left out exact quantities in these salads so you can proportion them to your own tastes.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Broccoli\/Beet Salad<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Most people like broccoli florets, but here\u2019s something to do with the often less popular stalks. Although there are a number of steps in creating this salad, they are not all that time consuming. Cooking the beets takes the longest and can be done the night before.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ingredients <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n