Prepare Your Body for Winter with These Organic Foods

Bears have the right idea when it comes to plumping up for the winter time. With the colder weather just around the corner we need to make sure our bodies harness energy and heat to get us through (I’m in Florida but for those who are experiencing snow at the moment here ya go).

According to Paul Pitchford in his book Healing with Whole Foods:

“It is a time to rest, meditate deeply, refine the spiritual essence, and store physical energy-in the form of a little added weight -for the cold season.”

I couldn’t agree more! Winter reminds me of living in upstate NY and how good it felt when I would come home from an afternoon of sledding. As soon as I walked in the door I instantly felt the warmth hit my face…soon turning my hands and feet numb. Then came the smell of onions and garlic being sauted in a pan by my grandfather….those smells make winter and cold temperatures tolerable

In Paul’s book he takes a look at the body with an eastern eye. Our kidney’s are affected most in the winter months due to the suggestion that we cook foods longer and use less water. Some foods that assist in strengthening the kidneys during this time are dried foods, small dark beans, seaweeds and steamed winter greens.

Now if you’re a fan of salty and bitter tastes you will enjoy the words to come. Both are wonderful for winter, they promote a sinking and centering quality which heightens the volume of storage. These types of food also cool the external part of the body which allows the heat to travel deeper and lower so we notice the cold less.

For the salt freaks out there don’t take this as a green light to go overboard. Too much salt tightens the water organs (kidneys, bladder) which promotes coldness and the consumption of too much water. This creates weakness in the mentioned organs and strains the heart.

Salt- Miso, soy sauce, seaweeds, salt, millet, barley and any healthy organic food made with salt added to it. Keep the amounts regular and in small doses.

Providing protection of the heart-mind is important during this time of year and can be accomplished by adding some bitter foods into your diet. According to Paul their flavor is said to “enter the heart.” When you think of bitter you probably won’t think of the vegetables listed below but if you have ever eaten salad by itself you notice it does have a bitter taste to it. Bitterness can also be held in the outer skin of some foods like citrus peels, I remember experiencing that when I was a little

Bitter- Lettuce, watercress, endive, escarole, turnip, celery, asparagus, alfalfa, carrot top, rye, oats, quinoa and amaranth.

As with every cold month warm hearty soups, whole grains and roasted nuts will also assist in the proper functioning of the body. Those are my personal favorites. Keep in mind that in eastern philosophy the kidney’s are key! They are seen as the root and foundation of the body and provide energy and warmth, so make sure they’re happy this winter season.

*Paul Pitchford’s book lists recipes that include veggies and grains mentioned in this post.