Chinese Medicine does not view digestion as only something that happens in your stomach. Digestion is influenced by the way you eat, when you eat and what you eat.
Your digestion responds to the seasons as your body adapts to changing foods you consume at different times; such as increasing soup in Winter.
Change of seasons and vulnerable digestion
Try to eat natural, seasonal produce. Nature knows best. Each season carries a quality of qi/energy that relates to food. Further, the energetic and nutritive properties are affected by how you prepare it. Are you putting too much heat into your food (making it yang) or depleting from overcooking (making it yin)? A little knowledge goes a long way. When our lifestyle and diet are in harmony with the seasons, digestion becomes more efficient and resilient.
The first port of call for digestion
The Stomach and Spleen oversee digestion/transformation and transportation of food into qi and blood. The Spleen prefers warmth of food, regularity in eating and moderation in amount. For example; warming and cooked foods in Winter maintain an internal warmth that transfers to the body systems, keeping the internal temperature stoking, while lighter meals in Summer (moderate without overabundance of cold and wet foods) guard against fluid accumulation that dampens the internal environment of the Spleen.
When we burden the Spleen, overtime this can lead to bloating, fatigue, loose stools or food stagnation; all of which tax the entire digestive system.
Eat the foods of the seasons to live well and live in harmony
Being mindful and eating by the seasons provides stabilization for the Spleen to prevent imbalance and development of symptoms carrying into the next season. As a result, energy is more consistent and the body feels able versus depleted.
Eating with the seasons is a foundation for healthy digestion, minimises dis-ease and builds lifelong resilience.