Ready to hibernate? 5 ways to nurture your digestion this Winter

As Winter settles in, the days get shorter and we turn inwards for nurturing and rest after the busy summer months. This period can often leave us feeling heavy, with increased bloating and sluggish digestion. To get us through these colder months we often turn towards heavy, comforting foods such as chocolate and fried food. The shorter days and colder weather also mean we tend not to move as much as in summer, spending our days indoors. In Chinese Medicine this rich food and stillness tend to create dampness inside, which is why our digestion suffers and we experience bloating and discomfort.

However, if we change the way that we approach the heavier food and prioritise rest mindfully, winter can be an important time in the cycle of our year where we nurture our digestion, building our resources so that by the end of winter we feel solid and grounded rather than heavy and sluggish. Here are five easy ways you can nurture your digestion this winter!

1.     Eat foods your Spleen will love.

Food is the Spleens’ love language, so you can nurture it through your cooking. Skip the salads and raw fruits that you’ve been told are a part of “clean eating”, as they create too much work for the Spleen to warm up and break down. Instead, try eating really well-cooked foods such as soups and stews. Spleen corresponds to the earth element so you can put root vegetables such as potatoes or turnips into your stews to show it extra love.

Colour is also important. Foods that are yellow or orange in colour will be particularly nourishing for your Spleen. Try adding in sweet potatoes, red lentils, ginger or turmeric into your cooking.

2.     Move in a way that feels good

While winter is a time for more stillness, we don’t want to stop moving altogether. Encourage more mindful movement whilst prioritising rest. Lean into gentle movements such as walking and stretching (especially side stretches and twisting) to encourage the energy to flow through your middle. Encourage movement into your life in a way that feels good for you. You can roll around on the floor while watching TV, in bed in the evening before sleep or move around in the kitchen while you have something on the stove.

3.     Try some self massage

Assist your digestion by encouraging Qi to move freely through the trunk of your body. With the flat of your palm, gently rub in a clockwise motion around your belly button 8-12 times. You can repeat this on your lower back, just make sure you are still going clockwise!

4.     Try acupressure

You can use gentle pressure on the acupuncture points to help relieve symptoms.

If you feel nausea or reflux apply small gentle circles to PC6:

If you feel bloating of discomfort in the abdomen, apply them to CV12:

If you experience constipation or diarrhoea, or general digestive discomfort apply them to ST25:

5.     Switch out your icy cold drinks for something warm

 Just like changing salads for soups, changing the temperature of your drinks is a really easy way to help out your digestive system. Even if it’s just changing your water from fridge to room temperature, or drinking Yin Yang water (half a cup of boiled water mixed with half a cup of cold water) in the morning when you wake up, your Spleen will thank you.

Warm is good, but just like too much cold, too much hot is harmful too. It’s all about balance here! Coffee is very hot in nature and can irritate your digestive system, so why not try swapping coffee for a warm chai latte with warming spices.

Making small changes to our lifestyles can help shift things, but sometimes we need more support to really see the change we want to see. If you’re ready to set the reset button on your digestion and would like to start living life with more vitality, book in to see me in clinic for acupuncture, herbal medicine and lifestyle advice!

Image reference:

Acupuncture.org