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Winter (Element Water)
The element water relates to the season winter, the color black, and the organ Kidney. Nothing grows in the winter yet there are dark foods that are good to eat to nourish the Kidney. Such are chestnuts, walnuts, raisins, dried plums, black mushrooms, black sesame seeds. Blackberry, mulberry and blueberry tea are profoundly rich in nutrients and are wonderful winter supplementation. Cranberry tea gives relief to Urinary Bladder infections and Kidney stones both caused by accumulated dampness in the lower part of the body (to learn about the Kidney from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine visit the Physiology chapter) (1)
Beans are shaped like Kidney thus are believed to be one of the best Kidney foods especially dark/black beans.
Salty foods also nourish the Kidney, as the salty flavor is the flavor of water element. Salty foods are soy sauce, seaweeds, millet, barley, and of course salt in moderation. (1) All types of fermented vegetables have salty flavor nourishing the Kidney yet supplementing the body with the necessary nutrients in the winter. Fermented vegetables are perfectly preserved without loosing any of their vitamins, minerals or digestive enzymes. Vegetables that are used to ferment are carrots, cauliflower, red peppers, cabbage, pickles, i.e. vegetables with neutral and warm nature. Some fermented vegetables might also have some sour flavor, which promotes the digestive function of the Liver, something necessary during winter as the Liver becomes overloaded with heavy fatty foods.
Certainly the consumption of meat needs to increase during the winter season because there is a bigger need for energy (derived from proteins) and warmth (derived from fats). Yet it is important to eat meat in moderate amounts because the overconsumption of meat may higher the cholesterol. Foods that lower the cholesterol are foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C and vitamin E. Such foods are oats, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, fish (rich in Omega 3 fatty acids); all types of sprouts, all types of citrus fruits, hot peppers, red peppers, celery, tomatoes, rose hips (rich in Vitamin C); soy beans and their sprouts, and all types of nuts (rich in Vitamin E). These foods are good to be added to the winter diet to ensure that the cholesterol level remains within norm.
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(1) Pitchford, Paul (2002). Healing with Whole Foods. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books
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The Six Climatic Factors and the Five Elements
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