It probably comes as no surprise to you then, to see “Drinking Herbal teas” as one of my top tips to stay healthy in winter. Check out my other health tips below.
Warm water, teas and herbal teas are the best support for the kidneys (avoid cold water).
Wear scarves and extra layers or scarves around your mid-section to keep the abdomen and kidneys warm.
Get the slow cooker out! Warming methods of cooking such as baking and stewing or anything that is cooked over a long period and at a low heat is a warming method of cooking from a TCM perspective and will help to nourish the kidneys.
Use aromatic herbs and spices in cooking such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary to warm up foods and help assist with digestion. Or, start the day with BBTC’s Chai tea or our caffeine-free alternative, Spice Dream!
Carrots, beetroots and parsnips are vegetables that grow in winter and help with the drawing down of energy to warm internally, to tonify and build kidney chi.
Miso, seaweed, sea salt, millet, barley plus any food made salty by the addition of salt- but don’t overdo it! These foods have a drawing down and centering action that heightens the capacity for storage and warmth.
Lettuce, watercress, endive, turnip, celery, asparagus, alfalfa, carrot, rye, oats, quinoa and amaranth. Like salty foods, these will have a drawing down and centering action that heightens the capacity for storage and warmth.
Miso soup is a kidney favourite: add sliced mushrooms, wakame (a sea vegetable), grated ginger and carrots and miso. Before adding the miso, make it into a paste with warm water and then add to the soup.
Medicinal Mushrooms such as Maitake and Shitake mushrooms are great kidney and immune-boosting tonics to include in your cooking. They are also key ingredients in FORTIFY- our new medicinal mushroom latte mix.
Chlorella and spirulina have a wide cross-section of nutrients to help build the blood and tonify the kidneys.