Health Information

During the White Dew season, it is advisable to eat sweet and light foods.

Release Date:

2023-09-09 20:13

 

On the 8th is Bailu, the third solar term of autumn.

The White Dew solar term marks the significant increase in cold air in nature. As recorded in the “Compendium of the Seventy-two Solar Terms”: “When the moisture in the soil and water condenses, it becomes dew; autumn corresponds to the Metal element, whose color is white—hence the name ‘White Dew’—and at this time the air begins to grow cold.” After the onset of White Dew, the summer monsoon gradually gives way to the winter monsoon, with cold air masses moving southward more frequently. At the same time, the sun’s direct rays shift progressively southward, shortening daylight hours and reducing solar intensity in the Northern Hemisphere. Nights often become clear and cloudless, allowing rapid radiative cooling from the ground, which in turn accelerates the drop in temperature. Hence the saying: “From the night of White Dew to the Autumn Equinox, each night brings a bit more chill.”

The White Dew season is marked by three seasonal changes. The first is the arrival of wild geese; as cool breezes begin to blow and dewdrops form, signaling the onset of autumn, the geese start their southward migration. The second is the return of the black swallows—commonly known as swallows—when the autumn winds grow brisk and white dew covers the hills, prompting the swallows to fly south for the winter. The third is the time when all birds begin to sense the austere, chilling energy of the season and busily stock up on food in preparation for winter.

At last, after enduring the hardships of the long summer, people can turn bitter into sweet, savor both sweet and light foods, and dispel dryness while nourishing the heart.

As the ancients said: “Rich, heavy flavors harm the body without one’s awareness; to find contentment in simplicity and plainness is my true teacher. From this arises the cultivation of three thousand virtues—eating lightly yields abundant nourishment.” The Plain Questions, in the chapter “On the Great Principles of Supreme Truth,” states: “Sweetness first enters the Spleen.”

The Lung governs the season of autumn. In the Five Elements, the Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, while the Lung belongs to Metal; Earth generates Metal, with Earth serving as the “mother” of Metal. When deficiency arises, one should tonify the mother—thus, consuming more sweet-flavored foods can nourish the Spleen and, in turn, strengthen the Lung’s qi. Hence the saying: “When the Spleen is robust, the Lung’s qi is sufficient.”

Meanwhile, sweet foods have the effect of generating body fluids, Eight Treatises on Living in Accordance with Nature It is recorded: “In the dry autumn air, it is advisable to consume sesame to moisten the body’s essence.” White Dew is a quintessential autumn solar term, characterized by pronounced autumn dryness; therefore, one should appropriately increase intake of nourishing, moistening foods with a sweet, mild flavor, such as honey, sesame seeds, and almonds. These not only tonify the spleen and stomach but also nourish the lungs and moisten the intestines, helping to prevent and alleviate various discomforts caused by autumn dryness—such as dry cough, dry and irritated throat, and intestinal dryness with constipation—resulting from insufficient bodily fluids in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, as well as symptoms like dull, dehydrated skin and brittle, lifeless hair.

During the White Dew season, it is important to nourish the lungs by reducing intake of fried and greasy foods such as fried chicken. Such foods are difficult to digest and can weaken the spleen and stomach’s ability to transform and transport food, leading to stagnation of oily substances in the gastrointestinal tract. This stagnation can generate internal heat, which is counterproductive when trying to adapt to the dryness of autumn. Therefore, one should eat less rich, greasy, and heavy-flavored foods and more light, sweet, and moistening dishes.

Although there is a saying about “gaining weight to prepare for autumn,” it’s important not to overdo tonics and supplements. It’s recommended to focus on light, easily digestible vegetarian meals that are rich in vitamins, such as pears, white fungus, honey, lily bulbs, goji berries, radishes, and soy products. You should also eat more orange- and yellow-colored vegetables, like pumpkin and carrots. In addition, it’s essential to consume plenty of leafy greens to ensure adequate vitamin C intake, such as Chinese broccoli Eat more spinach, broccoli, and other green vegetables, and try to limit consumption of hairtail, crab, shrimp, chives, raw or cold foods, pickled dishes, and foods that are overly sweet, fatty, or greasy.

Meanwhile, during the White Dew season, starting your morning with a bowl of porridge can help prevent autumn dryness; options include white fungus porridge, lotus seed porridge, sesame porridge, red date porridge, sweet potato porridge, and corn porridge, among others.

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