Nutritional Suggestions for Winter Rhythms

Winter is cold so your diet will need to produce more warmth and heat than in warmer seasons. Hearty soups, casseroles, and stews (all water rich foods) will take center stage during the winter months to fortify and strengthen your kidney/adrenal pathway. Winter foods are cooked longer and at lower temperatures than foods during other seasons.

Fruits are out of season and therefore are a smaller part of the winter diet. In contrast, root vegetables such as yams, turnips, onions, garlic, and potatoes make up a bigger portion of a winter diet. Cooked whole grains such as millet, barley, brown rice, wheat, oats, and buckwheat are good body heaters. Cooked with legumes such as black beans, lentils and kidney beans, these make a warming and nutritious meal.

Salty and bitter foods promote a deepening and centering energy that promotes the capacity of your body for storage. These foods tend to bring heat deeper into the body. However, excessive salt intake can lead to constriction of the Water element and may be related to problems with blood pressure.

Bitter foods include:

rye

oats

lettuce

carrot tops

quinoa

lettuce

celery

asparagus

alfalfa

amaranth

escarole

watercress

endive

chicory

citrus peel

Salty foods include:

Miso

Millet

Seaweeds

Barley

soy sauce

and other salted foods

Foods that regenerate and strengthen kidney energy include:

beans and dark foods with salty flavors

millet

buckwheat

black sesame seeds

black soybeans

chestnuts

mulberries

raspberries

strawberries

walnuts

Because winter corresponds to the Water element, ocean foods such as fish and seaweed are also good winter foods. While eating more fish is encouraged there are some guidelines needed. Nearly all fish contain trace amounts of methyl mercury. In most cases, this is of little concern because the level is so low. The fish most likely to have the lowest level of methyl mercury are salmon (usually undetectable levels), cod, mackerel, cold-water tuna, and herring.

But certain seafood - particularly swordfish, shark and some other large predatory fish - may contain high levels of methyl mercury. Fish absorb methyl mercury from water and aquatic plants. Larger predatory fish also absorb mercury from their prey. Methyl mercury binds tightly to the proteins in fish tissue, including muscle: cooking does not reduce the mercury content significantly. As a general rule, fresh water fish should be assumed to be mercury laden unless specifically proven otherwise. Limit your intake of fish to about 2 pounds a week - about 4 eight-ounce servings. Limit your intake of swordfish, shark and warm water tuna to very occasional consumption. Limit freshwater fish to no more than once a week (women of childbearing age who might be pregnant and children should avoid all freshwater fish completely). Reduce the consumption of farm-raised fish. Eat most of your fish baked or steamed and avoid fried, grilled or barbecued fish.

This winter take the time to cuddle up in a warm and cozy place. Spend time meditating and listening to yourself. Dream, reflect and store up energy and vitality. Sip strengthening herbal tonics and nourish yourself with hearty stews, soups and casseroles.

Enjoy the quiet of the winter season.


Copyright (c) 2008 Mary Ann Copson

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Nutrition Supplements" article category.

People interested in the above article "Nutritional Suggestions for Winter Rhythms" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 

Healthy Weight Control With Resveratrol

The top two famous fat loss diets involve the acai berry and Resveratrol, both directly causes weight loss. People who take Resvertitrol for weight loss say they simply feel full before they've finished their plate.

Health Benefits Of Resveratrol

If you are trying to become a more heath conscious person then you will want to consider adding Resveratrol to your daily regimen, it will provide you with many benefits to your health. Now everyone can be afforded those same benefits regardless of their thoughts of consuming large amounts of alcohol.

Acai Berry, The Jewel Of The Amazon

The acai berry has gained momentum as the number one superfood. Although the term "superfood" is over used among health food circles, the acai berry is well deserving of this title. It comes from a palm tree in Brazil that can reach heights of up to 60 feet high in the amazon rain forest. The clusters of berries are hand picked by locals who depend on the berry for economic support. It also aids in preserving the rainforest by warding off loggers and big business.

Daily Vitamin Supplements

Daily vitamin supplements are necessary for optimum health. Don't be fooled by low quality vitamins that don't even get absorbed into the body. See what pharmaceutical grade vitamins are and how to find them. Nutritional supplements are not created equal!

Taking Herbal Supplements

There is a reason why comfort foods like homemade soups and aromatic herbal dishes seem to have a healing effect on the body. It is because many of the fresh herbs and spices used to create these tantalizing dishes have tons of healing supplemental vitamins and nutrients packed into them. However, you don't have to be a chef de jour to take advantage of the healing power of herbs. Just go online to a health food store and order your favorite herbal supplement.

Are You Aware of the Fish Oil Side Effects and Their Solutions?

Of late, more and more people have come to know about the benefits of fish oil on their overall health. But, there are very few people who are curious to know about the side effects of fish oil. All the hype about the benefits of the fish oil and fish oil supplements have build up a favorable notion about the dietary supplements and hence, a few people discuss about its adverse effect on our health.

The Role of Fish Oil: Depression Can Take a Back Seat Now

Would you believe it? Fish oil actually fights depression and drives it away. Studies have shown that fish oil is very helpful for the brain. It provides the brain with the necessary fatty acids, the deficiency of which causes depression. It is not enough to have lots of fat in the body. You need to have the essential fatty acids which affect most of the functioning of the body. In fact, your body can do without most of the usual fat. This is harmful for the body and the cause of many fatal diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids, obtained from fish oil are the right kind of fats which fights depression and a host of other diseases as well.