Foods for an Autumn Diet
Energy of the Food for Autumn
Being aware of the energy of the food for autumn and incorporating these foods in simple ways really compliments your body’s energy balance. Foods like sweet corn, non-GMO Soy, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, red beets, turnips, lotus root, pear, carrots, sesame seeds – black, brown and white, local raw honey, banana, almonds, goji berries, and vinegar (any kind) are all very beneficial. Lotus root and tomato are really good for fall for both for men and women. Lotus root eaten in this season is great for your lungs, for your blood’s health and is beneficial for menstruation.
Tomato is also good for the heart and prostate energy. White and red color food especially tomato and lotus root help the heart and lungs and are wonderful foods for a good transition.
If you eat spicy food, it’s best at this time of year to stay away from spicy food and eat less because hot spice hurts lung energy. A little seasoning is okay. Chiles once in a while are okay and help transition but don’t eat lots of ginger root or garlic or hot pepper every day. This is the time to cut your hot and spicy seasoning by half. Every once in a while, using some of the spice like in this month’s recipe for Gingery Pumpkin Soup helps tonify your body, enriches earth energy, builds lung qi and warms chill in the lungs and promotes moisture.
Style of Cooking
Style of cooking in autumn is steaming and stir-frying. Soups are great for this time of year.
During this time you eat less chicken. Chicken is fire energy and if you deep-fry it you make the fire even stronger and that can hurt the lungs. Chicken baked occasionally is okay or chicken soup. Beef is okay or pork or fish. You can grill or any style but it’s best not to fry it. In order to calm down that energy better, be sure to have vinegar or sweet and sour dish to go along with these proteins.
For instance you can grill beef anyway you like but you have a dish with vinegar to go along with it such as pickles – sweet and sour stir fry pork or drink a lemon juice or take a tablespoon or teaspoon of vinegar.
Green and leafy vegetables are always good.