Moderately Reduce Sour Foods in Rain Water Season
The Rain Water solar term marks the gradual disappearance of cold weather, with spring breezes and continuous rains approaching. Tang Dynasty renowned physician and health expert Sun Simiao, in his work *Qian Jin Fang*, proposed the dietary principle for spring: “For 72 days in spring, reduce sour and increase sweet to nourish the spleen.” This means besides focusing on liver care in spring, attention should also be paid to spleen and stomach regulation. In daily diet, reduce sour-tasting foods and increase sweet-tasting ones to support spleen and stomach health. Traditional dietary health theory classifies tomatoes, citrus fruits, oranges, tangerines, pomelos, apricots, papayas, loquats, hawthorns, olives, lemons, pomegranates, umeboshi plums, trout, bee venom, vinegar, etc., as sour foods. Most everyday foods fall into the sweet category—rice, wheat, vegetables, poultry, fish, meat, and eggs. Indeed, sour foods often contain more vitamin C, so the advice is to moderately reduce sour intake rather than eliminate entirely.
Spring in northern regions is windy and dry—limit greasy foods and increase fresh vegetables and fruits to replenish body fluids. According to the principle “sweet foods strengthen the spleen,” moderately increasing intake of dates, yam, lotus seeds, and legumes benefits spleen and stomach health. Here are two spleen-strengthening, qi-tonifying recipes:
1. Red Date and Lotus Seed Porridge Ingredients: 20 red dates, 15g lotus seeds, 100g rice, water as needed. Wash red dates, lotus seeds, and rice, add water, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until porridge is ready.
Benefits and Indications: Tonifies qi, strengthens spleen, nourishes deficiency, suitable for elderly and middle-aged people with weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, indigestion, fatigue, loose stools.
2. Coix and Yam Porridge Ingredients: 10g coix seed (coix seed), 10g yam (50g fresh yam), 100g rice, water as needed. Prepare same as above.
Benefits and Indications: Strengthens spleen, removes dampness, nourishes lungs and kidneys—ideal for those with indigestion-related diarrhea, loose stools, general weakness, palpitations, and shortness of breath.