Pay Attention to “No Sourness, No Stillness” for Better Health Preservation
TCM holds that after Start of Spring, yang energy begins to rise. By leveraging this springtime opportunity—when yang ascends and metabolism accelerates—one can adopt scientific health preservation methods, greatly benefiting health and disease prevention throughout the year. Experts summarize four principles for seniors’ spring health preservation.
No “Sourness”
Spring diet should follow “reduce sour, increase sweet.” Since spring naturally sees rising liver yang, consuming sour foods may overly stimulate liver qi, which can damage the spleen and stomach. Hence, sour foods should be avoided in spring.
Sour foods include lamb, dog meat, quail, roasted peanuts, roasted sunflower seeds, sea fish, shrimp, crabs, etc. Instead, consume sweet, warm, spleen-tonifying foods—such as yam, bamboo shoots, spinach, jujubes, and leeks. One can also prepare a porridge using 30 grams each of yam and coix seed, 75 grams of millet, 25 grams of lotus seeds, and 10 jujubes, adding a little sugar. Eat this porridge daily as a staple.
No “Stillness”
Spring marks the beginning of yang energy rise in nature. Humans should align with this natural rhythm, focusing on yang nourishment. The key to yang nourishment is “movement”—not “stillness.”
Seniors should actively engage in outdoor exercise. Spring air contains abundant negative oxygen ions, enhancing cerebral cortex efficiency and heart-lung function, preventing arteriosclerosis. However, avoid exercising too early—morning temperatures are low, and fog is heavy, increasing risk of catching colds, asthma, or chronic bronchitis. Exercise only after sunrise. Also, avoid empty stomach workouts. Elderly people have slower blood flow and lower body temperature in the morning; drinking warm soups beforehand is advisable. Exercises should be gentle—after waking, muscles are relaxed and joints stiff. Begin with light stretching to avoid accidents from sudden exertion.
No “Anger”
Spring is when liver yang is especially active, making emotions prone to irritability. One must cultivate broad-mindedness and inner harmony.
Good mood supports liver health. Depression causes liver qi stagnation, impairing liver function and disrupting neuroendocrine systems, weakening immunity and increasing risks of mental illness, liver disease, and cardiovascular disorders.
No “Excess”
Older adults naturally have weaker yang energy. Spring is the ideal time to nourish yang. Excessive sexual desire and frequent intercourse deplete vital energy and essence, further damaging yang. Thus, seniors should moderate sexual activity in spring.