After the Beginning of Autumn, it is recommended for everyone to eat less eggplant and mutton, and eat more of 3 things, nourishing Yin and boosting Yang without getting internal heat!
After the Beginning of Autumn, Yang energy gradually diminishes, Yin energy gradually lengthens, the temperature will gradually decrease, and people’s appetites will also improve. Therefore, there is a custom of “putting on autumn fat” after the Beginning of Autumn. However, the weather in early autumn is not very cool, so one should not indulge in overly greasy or overly tonifying foods. Also, avoid eating excessively cold foods, but focus on eating cool instead of cold, and following the principle of nourishing Yin, boosting Yang without causing internal heat.
For example, eggplants which are commonly consumed in summer should be reduced in autumn. Eggplants from early summer to early autumn are no longer as fresh and tender as they were at the beginning of the season. Especially eggplants affected by frost may contain solanine, which is harmful to the human body. Moreover, in traditional Chinese medicine, eggplant is considered a cold-natured food. Consuming too much of it can damage the spleen and stomach, affecting digestion and absorption. In the autumn when Yang energy weakens, consuming cold-natured foods will exacerbate the body’s cold deficiency, increase the burden on the intestines and stomach, and lead to symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Similarly, mutton, a food traditionally consumed for nourishment in winter, when eaten in early autumn, can clash with the already weakened Yang energy, leading to internal heat and symptoms like dry mouth and thirst. Additionally, the digestive ability of the stomach and intestines is still weak in autumn, so overindulging in greasy and tonifying foods should also be avoided.
As the elderly often say, “Not taking care of your health in autumn will lead to a recurrence of old illnesses.” How can one nourish the body? In the dry autumn weather, it is advisable to eat more foods that nourish Yin, moisten dryness, and boost Yang to prepare for the cold winter. Today, I recommend these 3 things for early autumn consumption, promoting Yin and boosting Yang without causing internal heat!
1. Radish. Radishes are rich in vitamin C, mustard oil, and various mineral elements. Zinc, present in radishes, is essential for the body. Consuming radish helps boost immunity, enhance disease resistance, promote intestinal motility, aid digestion, clear heat and phlegm, promote body fluid production, alleviate thirst, aid digestion, and moisten the lungs to relieve cough.
Recommended dish: Radish, sugarcane, and pear juice.
2. Sesame. Sesame is commonly harvested in autumn and it can nourish both Yin and Yang, supply calcium, and benefit the essence and blood circulation. It is important to regulate the intake of sesame.
Recommended product: Sesame glutinous rice balls.
3. Chinese yam. Chinese yam is a herb that benefits the spleen, boosts Qi and nourishes the Yin. It also moisturizes dryness, nourishes the skin and hair, and enhances beauty.
Recommended dish: Chinese yam crucian carp soup.
This is the end of information about eating yin-nourishing, yang-boosting foods in early autumn. Do you like these ingredients? How do you prepare them? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Enjoy your cooking!
