"Off-season periods. How to help your body adapt to transition periods. - expert advice

20.03.2022

"The spleen belongs to the Earth element, which belongs to the Center, whose influence manifests itself for 18 days at the end of each of the four seasons, and it does not belong to any season."

On April 17, according to the Chinese calendar, the off-season began - the time between Spring and Summer. This period will last 18 days before Summer arrives.

What is the off-season?

As you know, the Chinese tradition has 5 seasons (or seasons): Spring, Summer, Indian Summer, Autumn, Winter. Each season has its own controlling energy of the primary element. Spring is Wood, Summer is fire, Indian Summer is Earth, Autumn is Metal and Winter is Water.

Each season has 72 days. Spring (72 days) + Summer (72 days) + Autumn (72 days) + Winter (72 days) = 288 days or 366-72-72-72-72 = 78 days remains in each year for one more, fifth season. True, the calculation of the season is not from 78 days, but from 72 days. This is the specificity of the Chinese calendar. Since there are four main seasons, each Off-Season is eighteen days between seasons.

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

The off-season is ruled 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 organ system of the Stomach and Spleen, or in another way the meridian system of the Stomach and Spleen.

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

The off-season is a good period when you can significantly improve and strengthen your health if you follow a few simple rules:

1. Walk a lot. The spleen is strengthened through the legs.
2. Do not overwork either mentally or physically.
3. Eat in moderation, even little, but chew thoroughly.
4. Food is better to eat warm, cooked, do not abuse dairy products and raw vegetables and fruits.
5. The spleen loves sweet tastes, but don't forget other tastes too.
6. Positive emotion that strengthens the spleen - calmness, balance. Negative - anxiety, anxiety.

Do the Six Healing Sounds meditation to avoid emotional imbalance.

Qigong exercises will be of great benefit now, especially Grounding practices.

Come to classes on Wednesday, as usual, from 19:00 to 21:00 at Pokrovka 27, building 1, hall 23, we will heal and calm down!

Alla Krylova.

Ancient healers and nutritionists of our time, over the course of centuries of observation, made an important conclusion for us. The fact that during 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, it's 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 the figure and health will always be normal, according to the followers of such a 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 the seasons, which occupies a certain, insignificant period.

Each season has its own taste and, accordingly, its useful products.

Seasons, food:

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

Meals for the seasons.

All human organs work together.

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

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

SPRING PERIOD AND NUTRITION

In the spring, the liver and gallbladder require increased care and attention.

These organs prefer the sour taste that is characteristic of:

Solyanok;
Seeds;
Orekhov;
carrots;
celery;
beets;
Turkeys;
Liver.

It is important not to drink cow's milk.
In the spring, a vegetarian lifestyle is always held in high esteem. Useful vegetables, sour soups, herbs, fish.
Prohibited products with a spicy taste - game, onions, garlic, wheat germ, adjika, sauces.

SUMMER AND FOOD

Active - the cardiovascular system and our small intestine.

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

Useful properties are: sheep meat with horseradish, mustard, radish, onion, radish, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, beets.
It is useful to eat zucchini, pumpkin, new potatoes, squash.
Pay special attention to seasonal berries (and find out in our previous article).
Dried fruits, compotes from them are also important. In summer, a negative salty taste, we exclude pork, beans.
In the summer we eat chicken and sauerkraut with benefit.

AUTUMN AND FOOD

In autumn, our lungs and large intestines are active - they are stimulated by the spicy taste. Therefore, it is useful to eat horseradish and garlic.

Of the meat products, game, beef, rice, buckwheat, fruits are important. But you need to exclude lamb, pastries, seeds, 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 is the best alternative.

In winter, you need to eat fatty foods: pork, lard, brisket, kidneys, legumes, buckwheat, potatoes, juices, sour and salty. Prohibition - sweets, beef, milk.

OFF-SEASON AND NUTRITION

In the off-season, the main - sweet taste, activates the digestive tract. We use honey, fruits and beef.
An additional bitter taste is dried fruits, lamb. Do not get carried away with poultry meat, kefir, lemons - these are sour foods. For all off-season periods, nutrition is almost identical.

So, in the winter-spring off-season, January 22 - February 4, salty-sweet food, salted watermelon, pickled cucumbers, bell peppers are desirable. Excluded products with a sour taste.

In the spring-summer off-season April 22-5 May, sweet and sour dishes and bittersweet are important.
Mandatory - 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 natural source of iodine.

In addition, vegetables and fruits should never leave our diet. While freshly grown in the harvest season, they are the most useful. It is important to use them without restrictions, because the time of freshness 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 food that gives us the opportunity

As a reminder, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), how you spend your off-season is how you will be healthy next season. Therefore, we carefully read about what the lifestyle and nutrition should be like in terms of traditional Chinese medicine in the off-season in this article.

No exceptions in nutrition, like in Autumn, do not 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 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 in each year for one more, fifth season. True, the calculation of the season is not from 78 days, but from 72 days.

Why this is so, I will not analyze it 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 must do the following. Take the start date of any season, for example, in 2013 Summer began on May 5th. Putting 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:

"The Classic of Categories" by Zhang Zhi Bing (1624) says: "The spleen belongs to the element Earth, to which belongs the Center, whose influence manifests itself for 18 days at the end of each of the four seasons, and which itself does not belong to any season."

In "Reasoning to Recipes 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 Earth element corresponds to the late stage of each season."

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

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 at this time is the season of vegetables and fruits. Therefore, if you are doing well with digestion, you should not deny yourself fresh fruits and vegetables, despite the recommendations in the off-season to eat mostly cooked food. Therefore, the off-season between summer and autumn is a small exception to the general rule.

So, what should be done to strengthen the Spleen during this period?

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

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

It is important to know that the Spleen fundamentally "likes" three types of food:

Cereals. The main cereals of the spleen: millet, buckwheat and pearl barley. Moreover, cereals during this period are not only possible, but even very useful to eat 3 times a day. Hercules for the spleen is not good. Rice is neutral in its properties this season.
Sweet root vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cooked onions. Pumpkin is also very useful.
Meat and meat products. Especially from 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. Crush and add to food while cooking. This is precisely the order in order of the degree of usefulness of spices for the Spleen.

Features of behavior in the off-season

You have to walk a lot. It is advisable to walk at least seven kilometers a day. Why is it important? The fact is that the Spleen system is strengthened through the strengthening of the legs. Therefore, long walks are especially indicated in this season.

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

The spleen "loves" music very much. Therefore, in the off-season, listening to good music is especially useful. No wonder one of the rules of Ayurvedic nutrition is to listen to harmonious, beautiful music while eating.

Physically, do not overwork. Also, it is not useful to overwork mentally. 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 - Off-season, when you should save yourself a little so that you 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 Internal 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 the muscles generate lungs. The spleen governs the mouth. Among organs, zang is the spleen Among flowers, it is yellow Among sounds, it is the sound of gong Among voice modulations, it is singing Among movement disturbances, it is hiccups Among bodily orifices, it is mouth Among tastes, it is sweet taste "Among the emotional strivings is pensiveness. Pensiveness destroys the spleen. Irritation conquers pensiveness. Moisture destroys the muscles. Wind conquers moisture."

* We find the reflection of the name Off-season in one of the diagrams explaining the Wu-Sin 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 scheme, all the Primary Elements form a cross. The earth is in the center and equidistant from each of the elements. That's really Interseason! Therefore, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the path to the health of any human organ lies through the strengthening of the Stomach and Spleen, since they represent the Earth element in our body and are responsible for filling qi and human immunity. This is the root of understanding the restoration of health: at the beginning of each correct treatment approach lies the strengthening of the Stomach and Spleen, and only then the treatment procedures associated with the main symptoms.

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All the best to you!!!

That's what they call the off-season in the East. The ancient oriental sages believed that proper nutrition at this “additional” time of the year is more important for health than at any other time. And what do modern scientists and nutritionists think?

Chinese traditional medicine

Along with the doctrine of yin and yang, which almost everyone has heard of, in Chinese philosophy there is also the doctrine of Wu Xing, less known in the West. In accordance with it, in addition to the four seasons familiar to us, there is an off-season, during which such organs 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 off-season 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 the timely replenishment of vital qi energy, and the spleen is responsible for immunity. And with improper nutrition in this “fifth season” you can seriously harm yourself, and with the right one, on the contrary, you can significantly improve your health.

So, consider 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, from 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 (it includes lamb, millet, onions, lettuce, radish, walnuts and almonds,different types of hot peppers, mustard).

"Bitter" products you can also eat quite a lot, but less than "sweet". "Sharp"(e.g. garlic, green onion, radish, bran, soybean and rapeseed oil, cinnamon, cardamom) and "salty" foods(pork, beef and pork offal, cheese, seaweed, soybeans) you can eat a little bit, but “sour” (sour-milk products of “long exposure”, sour vegetables and fruits) are best avoided altogether.

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

And what do Western luminaries of science and medicine advise?

More vitamins

At the end of winter, the main problem of our diet is the lack of vitamins. But do not rush to run to the doctor and complain about beriberi! In most cases, we are not dealing with the complete absence of any vitamin, that is, beriberi, 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 suffer from a lack of vitamins and useful microelements. The list of the most deficient includes “sunny” vitamin D, vitamins A, C and group B. Due to the lack of vitamins and trace elements 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 ... Yes, and the reflection in the mirror ceases to please: due to a lack of vitamin C and K, the complexion deteriorates and spider veins appear, a lack of B vitamins makes the skin dull and flaky, on lips appear jams and cracks that do not heal for a long time.

Vitamin complexes and the most balanced diet will come to the rescue. Vitamin C - tea from dried rose hips and frozen berries, fruits and vegetables. And in order to prevent hypovitaminosis, it is worth adopting a fashionable European fad - eat sprouts for breakfast there are even more vitamins and microelements in them than in summer vegetables and fruits from the garden. The most useful are wheat, oat and buckwheat sprouts, which contain a lot of B and E vitamins, 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 morning: they invigorate and tone up stronger than coffee and strong tea.

Support for immunity

Eat more foods rich in vitamin C (this is the main vitamin for maintaining immunity), and indulge in chocolate. Last resort you can just smell it: as scientists from the University of California found out, 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 daily: in addition to the fact that they contain a lot of vitamins and minerals needed to maintain immunity, recent studies have shown that almond skins contain unique bioactive substances, help the body resist infections such as influenza and SARS.

Along with the doctrine of yin and yang, which almost everyone has heard of, in Chinese philosophy there is also the doctrine of Wu Xing, less known in the West. In accordance with it, in addition to the four seasons familiar to us, there is an off-season, during which such organs 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 off-season transition periods: from winter to spring, from spring to summer, from summer to autumn and from autumn to winter. In the off-season, great importance is given: it is believed that the health and good functioning of the stomach ensure the timely replenishment of vital qi energy, and the spleen is responsible for immunity. And with improper nutrition in this “fifth season” you can seriously harm yourself, and with the right one, on the contrary, you can significantly improve your health.

So, consider the diet from the point of view of Chinese medicine. The main taste of the off-season - "sweet" - corresponds 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 (it includes lamb, millet, onions, lettuce, radish, walnuts and almonds,

different types of hot peppers, mustard). "Bitter" foods can also be eaten quite a lot, but less than "sweet". “Spicy” (for example, garlic, green onions, radish, bran, soybean and rapeseed oil, cinnamon, cardamom) and “salty” foods (pork, beef and pork offal, cheese, seaweed, soy) can be eaten a little , but “sour” (sour-milk products of “long exposure”, sour vegetables and fruits) are best avoided altogether. Other off-season rules: do not eat at night, do not eat cold dishes, reduce the amount of dairy and raw products to a minimum (the exception is sweet apples, which can be eaten in any quantity), since the spleen “loves” sweet food, it is advisable to add to all dishes sugar or honey. In general, such a Chinese diet is not so burdensome, especially since you only need to follow it for three weeks - this is how long each period of the off-season lasts. And what do Western luminaries of science and medicine advise?

More vitamins

Vitamin complexes and the most balanced diet will come to the rescue. Vitamins A and E are primarily milk, eggs, cottage cheese, nuts and vegetable oils, vitamins of group B are cereals, meat and dairy products, seafood, grain bread. Vitamin C - tea from dried rose hips and frozen berries, fruits and vegetables. The easiest way to cook smoothies from frozen berries and fruits: tasty, healthy and low-calorie! And in order to prevent hypovitaminosis, it is worth adopting a fashionable European fad - eating sprouts for breakfast: they contain even more vitamins and microelements than in summer vegetables and fruits from the garden. The most useful are wheat, oat and buckwheat sprouts, which contain a lot of B and E vitamins, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and 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 morning: they invigorate and tone up stronger than coffee and strong tea.

Support for immunity

It is at the turn of the seasons that our body most often fails, chronic diseases become aggravated, and often those who have steadfastly held out all winter and have not succumbed even to the flu are suddenly knocked down by an ordinary cold. Cause? Weakened by the lack of sunlight and vitamins immunity, increased energy expenditure of the body, tuning in the spring for natural renewal, and the attacks of viruses becoming more frequent against this background. Therefore, to support the body's defenses, eat the right and healthy food!

Be sure to include fiber-rich foods, as well as “live” yogurts, kefir, fermented baked milk and other fermented milk products in your daily diet: as World Health Organization experts never tire of repeating, our antiviral immunity directly depends on the intestinal microflora. And if harmful bacteria take precedence over beneficial ones, the body immediately weakens. Eat more foods rich in vitamin C (this is the main vitamin for maintaining immunity), and do not deny yourself chocolate. In extreme cases, you can just smell it: as scientists from the University of California found out, even the smell of cocoa beans accelerates the production of immunoglobulin A, which provides the body with protection against viruses. And their fellow immunologists from the UK advise eating a small handful of unpeeled almonds daily: in addition to being rich in vitamins and minerals needed to maintain immunity, recent studies have shown that almond skins contain unique bioactive substances that help the body to resist infections such as influenza and SARS.

No extra pounds!

The motto "Eat breakfast yourself, share lunch with a friend, and give dinner to the enemy" is perfect for the off-season. In dank and slushy weather, the appetite is played out even more than in the cold, and a bad mood every now and then wants to eat something rich and sweet. And if you do not take action in time, you will have to buy a completely new wardrobe for spring and summer - one size larger! Of course, you do not need to completely refuse dinner, but of all meals, it should be the easiest. We make it a rule to have a hearty breakfast and no later than nine in the morning. In this case, we can afford buns and other sweets without harm to the figure: fast carbohydrates and sugars will be used to generate energy and will not be deposited fat on the waist and hips.

In the opinion of many nutritionists, the ideal breakfast in the cold season must include porridge - hearty and healthy. For example, buckwheat or rice (they have an excellent detox effect and contain a lot of complex carbohydrates), corn (rich in glucose, which will help avoid fatigue and loss of strength), millet or pearl barley (they contain the amino acid lysine, which helps the body resist viruses and at the same time prevents the deposition of fat) . In addition, a warm breakfast warms well, preventing the body from “turning on” the fat accumulation mode. A warm or hot lunch will be a guarantee that by the evening you will not have a wolfish appetite and dinner will be light and correct.

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