Fifth season: how to maintain health during the off-season. Seasonal nutrition: nutritional features according to the seasons It is important to remember that food should not only be tasty, but also healthy

Let me remind you that, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), how you spend the off-season will determine your health in the next season. Therefore, we carefully read about what lifestyle and nutrition should be like from the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine in the off-season in this article.

No dietary exceptions, like in Autumn, apply to this off-season.

First, a little math

The off-season is the fifth season in Chinese tradition. What does this mean? Unlike the Western tradition, the system of forming the seasons of the year in the Chinese tradition has five seasons instead of four. The fifth season is the Off-Season. Since 72 days are allocated for each season, we get: Winter (72 days) + Spring (72 days) + Summer (72 days) + Autumn (72 days) = 288 days or 366-72-72-72-72 = 78 days remains each year for one more, fifth season. True, the season is calculated not from 78 days, but from 72 days.

Why this is so, I will not analyze this today, but I suggest that those who wish to study the Chinese calendar in detail by reading books on this topic.

So, we have 72 days in the off-season. Since there are four main seasons, each Off-Season is eighteen days between seasons 72/4 = 18.

To correctly calculate the start date of the off-season, you need to do the following. Take the start date of any season, for example, in 2013 Summer began on May 5th. We put it back 18 days and we get that the off-season between Spring and Summer begins on April 17th. Why is that?

Let me quote one of the sites dedicated to Chinese medicine:

In the Discourse on Copybooks from the Golden Palace, Zhang Zhong Jing said: “at the end of each season, the Spleen is strong enough to resist pathogenic factors and therefore in the cycle of seasons, the element Earth corresponds to the late stage of each season.”

Although the Earth element is often associated with “late summer” or “Indian summer” (the Chinese consider it the fifth season), it also corresponds to “late winter” and “late spring” and “late autumn”.

Those who study Chinese tradition know that each season has its own governing element. The off-season is governed by the Earth element*, and therefore lifestyle, behavior and nutrition are associated with the organs for which the Earth element is responsible. This is the system of organs of the Stomach and Spleen, or in other words, the system of meridians of the Stomach and Spleen.

In traditional Chinese medicine, this season, which is responsible for the Spleen system, is given great importance. great importance. The reason is that the Stomach, together with the Lungs, is responsible for replenishing the postnatal Qi of the human body. And the Spleen is for immunity. If the Spleen or Lungs do not work well, then the person cannot sufficiently replenish the energy expended and, sooner or later, falls ill. That is why strengthening the Spleen and Stomach is given such great importance in Chinese medicine.

The off-season is a unique time when you can significantly improve and strengthen your health if you follow a few simple rules.

By the way, the rules of behavior, nutrition and lifestyle are the same for all periods of the off-season, that is, for the periods between spring-summer, summer-autumn, autumn-winter and winter-spring.

The only exception is the off-season between summer and autumn. It is worth considering that this is the peak season for vegetables and fruits. Therefore, if everything is fine with your digestion, you should not deny yourself fresh fruits and vegetables, despite the recommendations to eat mostly cooked food in the off-season. Therefore, the off-season between summer and autumn is a slight exception to the general rules.

So, what should you do to strengthen the Spleen during this period?

Features of nutrition in the off-season (for HEALTHY people! For whom I have prescribed therapeutic nutrition - we follow the recommendations!)

Eat less. This is the most important rule.
Don't eat in the evening. That is, after 19.00.
Eat more grains and sweet root vegetables. Up to three times a day.
Do not eat raw, dry, sour foods. That is, all food must be thermally processed.
Period sauerkraut and pickles, the off-season is ending. The only exception here is lemon. It strengthens the Stomach.
Drink less liquids.
Don't eat cold food. That is, the food should be warm.
Reduce or completely eliminate the consumption of dairy foods.
For those who cannot live without it, in the off-season you can fry or cook Adyghe cheese or mozzarella. Or make dishes such as cheesecakes and casseroles from fresh cottage cheese.
You can't drink chicory or coffee. But it is very useful to drink a decoction of dates. It can be prepared this way: put 2 - 3 dates in water and cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Drink some water. Eat dates.
Honey is okay. But it is best to choose cold varieties, such as acacia or sweet clover honey.
It is advisable not to eat dried apricots and figs during this period.
Pine nuts are recommended in the off-season.
This season's tea is black pu-erh.
Since the spleen loves sweet foods, it is a good idea to add sugar in moderation to each dish.
Sweet apples are the most in-season fruit. If raw (apples are the only exception), then no more than one apple per day.
For drinks, it is recommended to drink dried fruit compote.
You can eat beans every day, but no more than one tablespoon.

It is important to know that the Spleen fundamentally “loves” three types of food:

Cereals. The main grains of the spleen are millet, buckwheat and pearl barley. Moreover, during this period it is not only possible, but even very healthy to eat cereals 3 times a day. Hercules is not good for the spleen. Rice is neutral in its properties during this season.
Sweet root vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cooked onions. Pumpkin is also very useful.
Meat and meat products. Especially among meat products, the following are recommended during the off-season: beef and beef-based broths. Quail eggs.

Spices in the off-season

Green cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh ginger. Grind and add to food when cooking. This is exactly the order of the degree of usefulness of spices for the Spleen.

Peculiarities of behavior in the off-season

You have to walk a lot. It is advisable to walk at least seven kilometers per day. Why is it important? The fact is that the Spleen system is strengthened through strengthening the legs. That's why long walks especially shown this season.

Do any exercises from yoga, qigong and other health systems to strengthen your legs.

The spleen “loves” music very much. Therefore, listening to good music is especially useful in the off-season. It is not for nothing that one of the rules of Ayurvedic nutrition is to listen to harmonious, beautiful music while eating.

Physically, you shouldn't get too tired. It is also not beneficial to become mentally overtired. The fact is that the Spleen is always weakened by strong mental and physical stress. And there are 4 periods of 18 days a year - the off-season, when you should take care of yourself a little in order to feel great the rest of the time!

And in conclusion, as an illustration, I would like to give you a quote from the ancient medical “Treatise on the Inner Yellow Emperor Huang Di”:

"The middle generates moisture. Moisture generates the element of soil, soil generates sweetness, sweetness generates the spleen. The spleen generates muscles, and muscles generate lungs. The spleen controls the mouth. On the heavenly level it is moisture. On earth it is the element of soil. In the human body it is muscles. Among organs, zang is the spleen. Among colors, it is yellow. Among sounds, it is the sound of gong. Among voice modulations, it is singing. Among movement disorders, it is hiccups. Among body orifices, it is the mouth. Among tastes, it is sweet taste. "Among the emotional aspirations is thoughtfulness. Thoughtfulness destroys the spleen. Irritation overcomes thoughtfulness. Moisture destroys muscles. Wind defeats moisture."

* We find a reflection of the name Off-season in one of the diagrams explaining the U-Xing system.

Wu Xing is a system of mutual transformation, influence, strengthening and suppression of the five main Primary Elements of the Chinese tradition: Fire (Summer), Metal (Autumn), Water (Winter), Wood (Spring), Earth (Off-season). In this diagram, all the Primary Elements form a cross. The earth is at the center and equidistant from each of the elements. This is truly the off-season! Therefore, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the path to the health of any human organ lies through strengthening the Stomach and Spleen, since they represent the Earth element in our body and are responsible for the filling of qi and human immunity. This is the root of the understanding of restoring health: at the beginning of every correct treatment approach is strengthening the Stomach and Spleen, and only then treatment procedures related to the main symptoms.

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This is what they call the off-season in the East. Ancient eastern sages believed: proper nutrition This “extra” time of year is more important to your health than any other. What do modern scientists and nutritionists think?

Chinese ethnoscience

Along with the doctrine of yin and yang, which almost everyone has heard of, in Chinese philosophy there is also the teaching of Wu Xing, which is less known in the West. In accordance with it, in addition to the four seasons we are accustomed to, there is an off-season, during which organs such as the spleen, stomach and pancreas are activated. And if you believe the ancient Chinese sages, seasonal exacerbations of gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other diseases of these organs are not at all accidental: this is retribution for nutrition that does not correspond to the “fifth season”. Moreover, we also have four interseasonal transition periods: from winter to spring, from spring to summer, from summer to autumn and from autumn to winter. In traditional Chinese medicine, the off-season is of great importance: it is believed that the health and good functioning of the stomach ensure timely replenishment vital energy qi, and the spleen is responsible for immunity. And with the wrong diet in this “fifth season” you can seriously harm yourself, but with the help of the right one, on the contrary, you can significantly improve your health.

So, let's look at the diet from the point of view of Chinese medicine.
The main taste of the off-season - “sweet”- correspond to honey, fresh sweet fruits, beef, butter and sunflower oil, rice, corn, buckwheat, oats, legumes, peanuts and pine nuts, mushrooms, dates, vegetables - pumpkin, potatoes, beets, cabbage, carrots. “Sweet” foods should form the basis of the diet. The complementary taste should be “bitter”, which improves the functioning of the spleen, stomach and pancreas (this includes lamb, millet, onion, lettuce, radish, walnuts and almonds,different types hot pepper, mustard).

"Bitter" products You can also eat quite a lot, but less than “sweet” foods. "Spicy"(for example, garlic, green onions, radish, bran, soybean and rapeseed oil, cinnamon, cardamom) and "salty" foods(pork, beef and pork by-products, cheese, seaweed, soy) you can eat a little at a time, but “sour” ( dairy products“long-aged”, sour vegetables and fruits) are best avoided completely.

Other off-season rules: do not eat at night, do not eat cold dishes, reduce the amount of dairy and raw foods to a minimum (with the exception of sweet apples, which can be eaten in any quantity), since the spleen “loves” sweet foods, it is advisable to add sugar or honey to all dishes . In general, such a Chinese diet is not so burdensome, especially since you only need to follow it for three weeks - that’s how long each off-season period lasts.

What do Western luminaries of science and medicine advise?

More vitamins

At the end of winter, the main problem in our diet is the lack of vitamins. But don’t rush to run to the doctor and complain about vitamin deficiency! In most cases, we are not dealing with a complete absence of any vitamin, that is, vitamin deficiency, but only with hypovitaminosis - its deficiency. The situation is not critical, but unpleasant.

According to statistics, by the end of winter, 85-90% of the population of developed countries suffers from a lack of vitamins and beneficial microelements. The list of the most deficient ones includes “sunshine” vitamin D, vitamins A, C and group B. Due to the lack of vitamins and microelements we need, the already small reserves of which were used up by the body during the winter to fight viral infections and frosts, we we suffer from drowsiness, fatigue, bad mood, loss of vitality, sleep disturbances... And the reflection in the mirror ceases to please: due to a lack of vitamins C and K, the complexion deteriorates and spider veins appear, the lack of vitamins B makes the skin dull and flaky, On the lips, jams and cracks that take a long time to heal appear.

They will come to the rescue vitamin complexes and as much as possible balanced diet. Vitamin C - tea from dried rose hips and frozen berries, fruits and vegetables. And in order to prevent hypovitaminosis, it is worth adopting the fashionable European fad - eat sprouts for breakfast: They contain even more vitamins and microelements than summer vegetables and fruits from the garden. The most useful are wheat, oat and buckwheat sprouts, which contain a lot of vitamins B and E, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, silicon. Nutritionists advise starting with two teaspoons, gradually increasing to three or four. Sprouts are good to add to salads, muesli and various cold dishes. The main thing is to eat them in the first half of the day: they invigorate and tone you up more than coffee and strong tea.

Immune Support

Eat more foods rich in vitamin C (this is the main vitamin for supporting immunity), and indulge in chocolate. As a last resort you can just smell it: as scientists from the University of California found, even the smell of cocoa beans accelerates the production of immunoglobulin A, providing the body with protection against viruses. And their fellow immunologists from the UK advise eating a small handful of unpeeled almonds every day: in addition to the fact that they contain many vitamins and minerals necessary for maintaining immunity, recent studies have shown that almond skin contains unique bioactive substances that helping the body resist infections such as influenza and ARVI.

Off-season - features of behavior and nutrition in Traditional Chinese Medicine

First, a little math

The off-season is the fifth season in Chinese tradition. What does this mean? Unlike the Western tradition, the system of forming the seasons of the year in the Chinese tradition has five seasons instead of four. The fifth season is the Off-Season. Since 72 days are allocated for each season, we get: Winter (72 days) + Spring (72 days) + Summer (72 days) + Autumn (72 days) = 288 days or 366-72-72-72-72 = 78 days remains each year for one more, fifth season. True, the season is calculated not from 78 days, but from 72 days. Why is this so, I will not analyze this today, but I suggest that those who wish to study the Chinese calendar in detail. So, we have 72 days in the off-season. Since there are four main seasons, each Off-Season is eighteen days between seasons 72/4 = 18.

To correctly calculate the start date of the off-season, you need to do the following. Take the start date of any season, for example, in 2013 Summer begins on May 5th. We put it back 18 days and we get that the off-season between Spring and Summer begins on April 17th. Why is that?

Let me quote one of the sites dedicated to Chinese medicine:

“In the Classic of Categories by Zhang Zhi Bing (1624) it is said: “The Spleen belongs to the element Earth, to which belongs the Center, the influence of which manifests itself for 18 days at the end of each of the four seasons, and it itself does not belong to any season.”
In the Discourse on Copybooks from the Golden Palace, Zhang Zhong Jing said: “at the end of each season, the Spleen is strong enough to resist pathogenic factors and therefore in the cycle of seasons, the element Earth corresponds to the late stage of each season.”
Although the Earth element is often associated with “late summer” or “Indian summer” (the Chinese consider it the fifth season), it also corresponds to “late winter” and “late spring” and “late autumn”.

In traditional Chinese medicine, this season, which is responsible for the Spleen system, is given very great importance. The reason is that the Stomach, together with the Lungs, is responsible for replenishing the postnatal Qi of the human body. And the Spleen is for immunity. If the Spleen or Lungs do not work well, then the person cannot sufficiently replenish the energy expended and, sooner or later, falls ill. That is why strengthening the Spleen and Stomach is given such great importance in Chinese medicine.

The off-season is a unique time when you can significantly improve and strengthen your health if you follow a few simple rules.

So, what should you do to strengthen the Spleen during this period?

Peculiarities of nutrition in the off-season

Eat less. This is the most important rule.
Don't eat in the evening. That is, after 19.00.
Eat more grains and sweet root vegetables. Up to three times a day.
Do not eat raw, dry, sour foods. That is, all food must be thermally processed.
The period of sauerkraut and pickles in the off-season is ending. The only exception here is lemon. It strengthens the Stomach.
Drink less liquids.
Don't eat cold food. That is, the food should be warm.
Reduce or completely eliminate the consumption of dairy foods.
For those who cannot live without it, in the off-season you can fry or cook Adyghe cheese or mozzarella. Or make dishes such as cheesecakes and casseroles from fresh cottage cheese.
You can't drink chicory or coffee. But it is very useful to drink a decoction of dates. It can be prepared this way: put 2 - 3 dates in water and cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Drink some water. Eat dates.
Honey is okay. But it is best to choose cold varieties, such as acacia or sweet clover honey.
It is advisable not to eat dried apricots and figs during this period.
Pine nuts are recommended in the off-season.
This season's tea is black pu-erh.
Since the spleen loves sweet foods, it is a good idea to add sugar in moderation to each dish.
Sweet apples are the most in-season fruit. If raw (apples are the only exception), then no more than one apple per day.
For drinks, it is recommended to drink dried fruit compote.
You can eat beans every day, but no more than one tablespoon.

It is important to know that the Spleen fundamentally “loves” three types of food:

Cereals. The main grains of the spleen are millet, buckwheat and pearl barley. Moreover, during this period it is not only possible, but even very healthy to eat cereals 3 times a day. Hercules is not good for the spleen. Rice is neutral in its properties during this season.
Sweet root vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cooked onions. Pumpkin is also very useful.
Meat and meat products. Especially among meat products, the following are recommended during the off-season: beef and beef-based broths. Quail eggs.

Spices in the off-season

Green cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh ginger. Grind and add to food when cooking. This is exactly the order of the degree of usefulness of spices for the Spleen.

Peculiarities of behavior in the off-season

You have to walk a lot. It is advisable to walk at least seven kilometers per day. Why is it important? The fact is that the Spleen system is strengthened through strengthening the legs. Therefore, long walks are especially recommended during this season.
Do any exercises from yoga, qigong and other health systems to strengthen your legs.
The spleen “loves” music very much. Therefore, listening to good music is especially useful in the off-season. It is not for nothing that one of the rules of Ayurvedic nutrition is to listen to harmonious, beautiful music while eating.
Physically, you shouldn't get too tired. It is also not beneficial to become mentally overtired. The fact is that the Spleen is always weakened by strong mental and physical stress. And there are 4 periods of 18 days a year - the off-season, when you should take care of yourself a little in order to feel great the rest of the time!

And in conclusion, as an illustration, I would like to give you a quote from the ancient medical “Treatise on the Inner Yellow Emperor Huang Di”:

Ancient healers and nutritionists of our time, over the course of centuries of observations, made an important conclusion for us. The fact that during the 12 months of the year, in each season, a certain system of the body is active, which needs specific nutrition, with a certain taste.
In short, this is seasonal food.

It is seasonal nutrition that gives us the opportunity to always be beautiful and slim. Nutrition that promotes metabolic processes, and therefore keeps the body and body in good shape. This means that both your figure and your health will always be normal, say followers of this diet.

According to seasonal nutrition, the year consists of 4 seasons and off-season periods:

The first season is winter;
The second season is spring;
The third season is summer;
The fourth season is autumn;
Off-season.

The off-season is an intermediate stage between seasons, occupying a certain, insignificant period.

Each season has its own taste and, accordingly, its own healthy foods.

Seasons, food:

In spring the liver is active, gallbladder- the basis for them is a sour taste;
In summer, the heart is especially demanding, the small intestine - the basis of the taste is bitter;
In autumn, at the working peak, the lungs, large intestine are the main spicy taste;
In winter, the kidneys and the genitourinary system need care - the main taste is salty;
In the off-season, the stomach and pancreas are active - sweet taste is the main one.

Food according to the seasons.

All human organs work together.

But nevertheless, in each period, its seasonal taste prevails. Besides which there is also a complementary and neutral taste, there is no benefit from them. There is also a negative seasonal taste that is harmful.

The spring period is the main sour taste, the negative is spicy.
Summer period- main bitter taste, negative - salty.
The autumn period is the main pungent taste, the negative is bitter.
Winter period - the main taste is salty, the negative is sweet.
The off-season period - the main taste is sweet, the negative is sour.

SPRING AND NUTRITION

In spring, the liver and gall bladder require increased care and attention.

These organs prefer the sour taste, which is characteristic of:

Solyanok;
Seed;
Orekhov;
Carrots;
Celery;
Beetroot;
Turkeys;
Liver.

It is important not to drink cow's milk.
IN spring period The vegetarian lifestyle is always held in high esteem. Vegetables, sour soups, herbs, and fish are healthy.
Products with a spicy taste are prohibited - game, onions, garlic, wheat sprouts, adjika, sauces.

SUMMER AND FOOD

The cardiovascular system and our small intestine are active.

The main one is bitter taste. It is important to eat greens with bitterness.

Beneficial features have: lamb meat with horseradish, mustard, radish, onions, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, beets.
It is healthy to eat zucchini, pumpkin, new potatoes, and squash.
Please pay attention Special attention seasonal berries (find out in our previous article).
Dried fruits and compotes made from them are also important. In summer there is a negative salty taste, exclude pork and beans.
In the summer we eat chicken and sauerkraut.

AUTUMN AND NUTRITION

In autumn, our lungs and colon are active - they are stimulated by spicy tastes. Therefore, it is useful to eat horseradish and garlic.

Among meat products, game, beef, rice, buckwheat, and fruits are important. But you need to exclude lamb, baked goods, seeds, and nuts.

WINTER AND NUTRITION

In winter our kidneys are active. Salt is important during this period.
But you need to know that salty taste and salt are not the same thing. It is not necessary to add salt to all dishes. Soy sauce- the best alternative.

You need to eat in winter fatty dishes: pork, lard, brisket, kidneys, legumes, buckwheat, potatoes, juices, sour and salty. Prohibition: sweets, beef, milk.

OFF-SEASON PERIOD AND NUTRITION

In the off-season, the main taste is sweet, which activates the gastrointestinal tract. We eat honey, fruits and beef.
Additional bitter taste is dried fruits, lamb. You should not get carried away with poultry, kefir, lemons - these are sour products. For all off-season periods, the nutrition is almost identical.

So, in the winter-spring off-season, January 22 - February 4, salty and sweet foods, salted watermelon, pickled cucumbers, and bell peppers are desirable. Products with sour taste are excluded.

In the spring-summer off-season April 22 -5 May, sweet and sour and bittersweet dishes are important.
Required - beef, lamb, cheeses, fruits, sweets.

But regardless of the frequency of the seasons, you should always eat fish and seafood. After all, they are the ones who natural source Yoda.

In addition, vegetables and fruits should never leave our diet. Given that they are freshly grown during the harvest season, they are the healthiest. It is important to consume them without restrictions, because the freshness time is short-lived. And getting a vitamin supply is very important.

The best option is, of course, your own garden and your own harvest, without nitrates and other chemicals. But not everyone has such an opportunity. Therefore, relying on the agricultural supervision of the Russian Federation, we purchase these useful products from the market or from retail outlets.

But still, it is seasonal nutrition that gives us the opportunity

In the off-season, human physiology is especially vulnerable. The ability to go through this period correctly makes it possible to feel good throughout the coming season. Therefore, during the off-season it is necessary:

1. Review your sleep schedule.
It is very important to go to bed as early as possible (no later than 22:00) and wake up around 6 am. At the same time, you should feel rested. If the morning begins with a feeling of fatigue, you should think and analyze what could be the reason. Perhaps you go to bed late or just have dinner late, perhaps, on the contrary, you don’t eat and wake up hungry, maybe there is not enough depth of sleep. All these points must be considered individually, while understanding that sleep patterns will be the most important and decisive.

2. Physical activity.
In the summer, many of us felt a lack of physical strength. With the arrival of autumn, strength will be replenished. Can and should be increased physical exercise– exercises, gym classes, yoga, etc. This is especially necessary for people with a Kafa constitution. Autumn is the period of Vata, when phenomena such as wind, cold, and dryness prevail in nature. The same phenomena will manifest themselves in human physiology.

3. Oiling the whole body.
It is very good to perform oil self-massage of the whole body during this period - “Abhyanga”. This is especially important for those people who have increased Vata dosha, that is, whose dominant qualities are mobility, crunching and pain in the joints, dry skin, changeable appetite and digestion of food, superficial and shallow sleep. During Vata season, Abhyanga should be done every morning before taking a shower.

How to do Abhyanga correctly at home, read here:

4. Nutrition.
In the off-season, you need to reconsider your diet. Because at this time of year the needs of our body increase and we must properly fill them. The food should be warm, oily, and higher in calories. However, it is very important not to overeat! Breakfast and dinner should be light, lunch - denser.

5. Meditation.
In autumn, cold, windy weather often gives us a feeling of internal instability, sadness, loss - meditation helps each time to find a foothold within ourselves, allows us to touch the area associated with feelings of immutability, stability, indestructibility. And these deep psychological experiences will provide great support, especially to those people who tend to fall into a state of melancholy. It is also very important to remember that in transition periods(autumn, spring) the body is most inclined to cleansing procedures.

More about meditation:

6. Cleansing.
In the autumn, the best thing you can do for your body is to undergo a full course of Panchakarma cleansing procedures. Panchakarma cleanses the body of toxins at all tissue levels, including the deepest layers, strengthens the immune system, improves digestion, relieves chronic health problems, restores nervous system gives a large supply of vitality.

More information about Panchakarma:

Be healthy this fall and always!
With love,

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