Colder Weather

Cold Dew is the seventeenth of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, signaling the arrival of colder weather. From Cold Dew onward, dew becomes heavier and temperatures drop significantly. As cold intensifies, the body's yang energy also begins to contract. For health preservation, it is important to focus on nourishing yin essence, with particular attention to strengthening the spleen and lungs to guard against cold dryness. The following “Three Dos,” “Three Don’ts,” and “Five Preventives” are especially important. Three Dos Strengthen the Spleen and Stimulate Appetite Dietary supplementation during Cold Dew should begin with strengthening the spleen and stimulating appetite, followed by personalized dietary adjustments. This approach not only supports the spleen and lungs but also nourishes the intestines and replenishes vital essence while preventing fire, phlegm, dryness, and yin deficiency. Foods like pears, persimmons, bananas, carrots, winter melon, silver ear fungus, beans, mushrooms, kelp, and seaweed are recommended. Middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as those with chronic illnesses, should consume more jujubes, lotus seeds, yam, duck, and fish. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a healthy spleen ensures the proper functioning of the spleen in winter. Food enters the stomach, and spleen qi disperses essence upward to the lungs. Therefore,…