Best Foods for boosting Spleen Qi
Hey there - it’s time to rethink that cold breakfast shake and cold salad for lunch!
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Spleen Qi Vacuity often shows up in my clinic as fatigue, poor digestion, loose stools, bloating, gas, weight retention, brain fog, and a feeling of heaviness. When it leads to damp accumulation, symptoms may include worse bloating, water retention, cloudy thinking, and a sticky coating on the tongue.
To support the Spleen, we address these patterns with a warm, nourishing diet that strengthens the Spleen Qi and eliminates dampness is key!
Here are ways YOU can help yourself. Acupuncture can do the rest at the clinic 😉
General Dietary Guidelines
Eat warm, cooked foods: Say NO to raw, cold, or iced foods and beverages, as these can further weaken the Spleen **THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT in the WINTER and cold months**
Avoid greasy, fried, and overly sweet foods: These can contribute to dampness. Have you ever had fries one time, and felt ok, and then the next time.. not so much? It accumulates!!!
Small, regular meals: Overeating burdens the Spleen - keep it small and simple and don’t let yourself get too hungry.
Foods to Strengthen Spleen Qi
These foods are warming, nourishing, and support digestion: 🍚
Grains: Brown or white rice, millet, quinoa, oats (lightly cooked or in porridge).
Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, pumpkin, yams, parsnips.
Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, mung beans.
Proteins: Chicken, turkey, eggs, fish (especially cod and haddock).
Herbs and Spices: Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, turmeric (warming spices aid digestion). *MY NOTE: ginger is NOT for everyone, if it doesnt sit well with you, your condition runs too “hot” in Chinese medicine. Schedule with me to learn more.
Fruits: Apples, pears, cherries, dates, figs, berries
Foods to Drain Dampness
These help remove excess moisture and support digestion:
Grains: Barley, adzuki beans, and coix seed (Job's tears). ^Mainly stick to the ones above, too.
Vegetables: Asparagus, celery, daikon radish, fennel, turnips, leeks.
Herbal Teas: Chinese herbal teas are the best option - schedule with me to find your custom blend. Or try - Ginger tea, dried tangerine peel tea, lotus leaf tea. **see my note on ginger above^
Sample Meals
Breakfast: Warm millet porridge (or oatmeal) with a dash of cinnamon and a few dates or blueberries.
Lunch: Steamed chicken with carrots, squash, kale, and ginger over brown rice.
Dinner: Light fish with ginger, cooked vegetables, and quinoa.
Foods to Avoid
Cold, raw foods: Salads, smoothies, iced drinks.
Damp-producing foods: Dairy, bananas, sugar, refined carbs, and alcohol.
Hard-to-digest foods: Fatty meats, deep-fried items.
I encourage you to try out these foods and follow TCM dietary principles on a regular basis. You can strengthen your Spleen Qi, reduce dampness, and improve overall health.
Remember: add gentle movement, like Tai Chi or yoga, and avoid excessive worry, as emotional strain also affects the Spleen.
If you have more questions about TCM Principles for Spleen Qi wellness, reach out to me, Mara Carlini, today and let’s set up an appointment to assess your Spleen Qi health. Set up an appointment here.
