The winter solstice is an important solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, and it is also a traditional Chinese folk festival. In ancient times, there was a saying among the people that "the winter solstice is as big as the new year."
As the winter solstice approaches, we need to arrange a traditional meal with a sense of ceremony. For example, people in Gusu drink winter wine on the night of the Winter Solstice; Taiwan still retains the tradition of using nine-layer cakes to worship ancestors during the Winter Solstice, using glutinous rice flour to make chickens, ducks, turtles, pigs, cows, sheep, etc., symbolizing good luck, good luck, and fortune; in the Jiangnan water towns, there is a custom of the whole family gathering together to eat red bean glutinous rice on the night of the Winter Solstice. Various eating customs have a beautiful meaning, which is to maintain health, prevent diseases and disasters, and look forward to the coming year.
So, what is the importance of maintaining health during the Winter Solstice? According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, you can start from the following aspects:
① Keep out the cold
The winter solstice is the beginning of " number nine". The first task of winter solstice health preservation is to protect yourself from the cold and keep warm. The diet should be mainly warm and hot, such as eating glutinous rice, jujubes, longans, sesame seeds, leeks, fungus, etc., and eat less cold drinks, seafood and other cold foods.
② Nourishing Yang
During the winter solstice, Yin Qi has reached its peak and Yang Qi has begun to sprout. In line with this trend, the winter solstice health regimen should properly replenish the yang energy, and you can eat some medicinal foods such as mutton, wolfberry, and leek. Pay attention to the rules of life, open windows regularly for ventilation, and conduct outdoor physical exercise appropriately.
③ Yinyin
"The Nei Jing " says "nourishing yin in autumn and winter", and the climate in northern is generally dry in winter, with frequent windy weather. Therefore, nourishing yin essence is also an important part of winter solstice health preservation. Winter is cold, so eating hot pot and barbecue around the fire is more frequent than in summer. However, it is better to eat less spicy, spicy, barbecued and fried food. You should also drink more water and eat more fruits. The room should be properly ventilated and maintain a certain humidity to prevent upper respiratory tract infections.
Winter Solstice Medicinal Diet Recommendation:
(1) Honey Ginger Tea
Ingredients: 10 grams of honey, 20 grams of fresh ginger, 5 grams of green tea
Method:
(1) Fresh raw Slice the ginger, put it into a cup with the tea, pour 200 ml of boiling water and soak for 15 minutes
(2) After the water becomes warm, add honey and stir well.
Efficacy: Moisten the lungs and relieve cough
(2) Roasted sea cucumber with ginseng and wolfberries
Ingredients: 250 grams of sea cucumber, 10 grams of ginseng, 30 grams of wolfberry, appropriate amount of salt, cooking wine, green onion, ginger, etc.
Method:
(1) Slice the ginseng and the wolfberry with clean water, add the two and boil them in water for 30 minutes, take the thick juice
(2) Sea cucumber Remove the intestines and cut into strips
(3) Heat oil in a pot, add chopped green onion, minced ginger, cooking wine, soy sauce, add sea cucumber strips and stir-fry for a while, pour in the concoction, turn down the heat, simmer until the soup thickens, add salt, pepper and other seasonings
Efficacy: Tonify the body and qi, nourish the kidneys and yang
