What Fruits Should You Eat in Winter

In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory the diet is an important tool in maintaining health. It is necessary to be aware of the types of foods that may assist or impair the condition of your body.

All foods vary in flavour (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, etc) and nature (cool, cold, warm, hot, etc) and therefore should be eaten in accordance with an individual's constitution. For example, if one has a condition involving an excess of heat in the body they should eat foods of a cooling nature, such as watermelon and cucumber and avoid foods that will further heat the body, like chilli and garlic.

Climatic changes also affect our bodies and we should therefore alter our diets accordingly. Using the Five Element Theory it is said that differing climatic conditions influence our organs as follows:

Excessive Heat will affect the Heart (eg. palpitations)
Excessive Wind will affect the Liver (eg. irritability)
Excessive Dryness will affect the Lungs (eg. dry skin)
Excessive Dampness will affect the Spleen (eg. bloating)
Excessive Cold will affect the Kidneys (eg. poor circulation)

Therefore, in winter when the weather is cold and damp it is important to eat foods to warm the Spleen and Kidneys and clear Dampness.

Fruits that can be eaten to achieve this goal are apples, bananas and mandarins.