Best Foods for boosting Spleen Qi
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Spleen Qi Vacuity often presents as fatigue, poor digestion, loose stools, and a feeling of heaviness. When it leads to damp accumulation, symptoms may include bloating, water retention, cloudy thinking, and a sticky coating on the tongue.
To support the Spleen and address these patterns, a warm, nourishing diet that strengthens the Spleen Qi and eliminates dampness is key.
General Dietary Guidelines
Eat warm, cooked foods: Avoid raw, cold, or iced foods and beverages, as these can further weaken the Spleen.
Avoid greasy, fried, and overly sweet foods: These can contribute to dampness.
Small, regular meals: Overeating burdens the Spleen.
Foods to Strengthen Spleen Qi
These foods are warming, nourishing, and support digestion:
Grains: Brown 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).
Fruits (cooked or dried): Apples, pears, cherries, dates, figs.
Foods to Drain Dampness
These help remove excess moisture and support digestion:
Grains: Barley, adzuki beans, and coix seed (Job's tears).
Vegetables: Asparagus, celery, daikon radish, fennel, turnips, leeks.
Herbal Teas: Ginger tea, dried tangerine peel tea, lotus leaf tea.
Seaweed: Kelp and wakame (in moderation).
Sample Meals
Breakfast: Warm millet porridge with a dash of cinnamon and a few dates.
Lunch: Steamed chicken with carrots, squash, 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.
We 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 Mara Carlini today and set up an appointment to assess you Spleen Qi health. Set up an appointment here.
