To achieve longevity, one must navigate the journey of life smoothly. Without a doubt, “yang energy” is the stepping stone to progress. We often notice that people’s lifespans vary; some individuals suffer from various diseases early on and are distant from longevity, while others, despite their old age, remain strong and healthy. This is greatly related to the yang energy within. To attain longevity, one must have sufficient yang energy. However, many behaviors in daily life deplete yang energy, and many male friends may be unaware of this.
Attention male friends: 4 behaviors that deplete yang energy. How many do you engage in?
1. Excessive indulgence
The fastest way to drain yang energy is through—excessive indulgence.
A balanced and reasonable sexual life is a necessity for both body and mind and is beneficial for health. However, extremes inevitably lead to backlash. Unrestricted sexual activity severely depletes the yang energy of male friends, which is closely related to the kidneys. The kidneys store essence; excessive sexual activity prematurely “exploits” kidney essence, leading some men to experience symptoms like lower back and knee weakness and fatigue. Many think this is due to overwork, but in fact, it signals kidney essence deficiency.
2. Staying up late
Everyone understands that staying up late and insufficient sleep harm the body. Besides affecting the brain’s nerves, it also depletes our vital energy. Friends who frequently stay up late and have poor sleep quality must have experienced this: the day after staying up, they often feel exhausted and have trouble concentrating. Insufficient energy is a sign of inadequate yang energy in the body. During the midnight hour, we transition from yin to yang within, and having enough yang energy is essential for converting it into vital energy. Otherwise, a deficiency in yang energy may arise.
3. Liking rich, greasy foods
Our ancestors often said that being able to eat is a blessing, and eating is a culture. However, “knowing how to eat” is a skill. In recent years, more middle-aged men are becoming overweight, having thick waists, thin legs, and large bellies, often becoming breathless after walking a few steps. These signs indicate that their yang energy is starting to weaken. But according to common thinking, being able to eat is a blessing. Why would this deplete the yang energy in the body? Being overweight does not equal being healthy; these are two different concepts. Generally, overweight individuals tend to overburden their spleen and stomach, leading to a damp-evil constitution over time, which depletes both blood and yang energy.
4. Liking cold drinks
Friends who frequently consume cold drinks are more likely to experience yang energy deficiency. Summer is the season when people are most enthusiastic about cold drinks. However, when cold beverages enter the stomach, the first victim is the stomach, which contracts from the cold, thereby impairing the spleen and stomach’s ability to ascend and descend properly. Over time, this unnoticeably depletes the body’s yang energy, and if not replenished in time, it leads to yang deficiency.
Insufficient yang energy leads to numerous ailments, so it is important to engage in activities that nourish yang energy in daily life to prevent its depletion.
1. Eat more warming foods
Warming foods are the most effective for nourishing yang! Grains and cereals are generally warming, such as millet, black rice, glutinous rice, and oats. Sesame, etc. Additionally, the combination of meals throughout the day is very important. The yang energy in our bodies fluctuates with the rising and setting of the sun. For example, in the morning, when the sun has just risen, yang energy is weak; at noon, it is strong; and in the evening, when the sun sets, yang energy returns to the kidneys. The variation and pairing of food in three meals a day should also align with the changes in yang energy in the body. Only by following the laws of nature can we remain in harmony with yang energy.
2. Eat more black foods
Black foods nourish the kidneys and provide excellent nourishment for them. There are quite a few varieties of black foods, such as black beans, black rice, black sesame, black dates, and mulberries. Occasionally cooking black rice porridge can help nourish the kidneys and support yang, as well as prevent hair loss.
3. Maintain regular exercise
The benefits of exercise are numerous. Regular physical activity not only strengthens the body but also promotes blood circulation and boosts yang energy. Engaging in aerobic exercise three times a week also helps the body eliminate toxins. However, it is best to avoid exercising after 7 PM, as exercising during this time can lead to internal consumption of a large amount of yang energy and can make it difficult to fall asleep.
