Lettuce is a bitter food in TCM as well as cooling, which makes salad a good choice for the summer. Pungent tasting foods and herbs strengthen the lungs and large intestine and are recommended during autumn. We are coming into the late summer time, which is a time to prepare for the cooler, wetter weather to come. Sweet is the taste for this time, which strengthens the stomach and spleen. These are the organs responsible for digestion and absorption of the nutrients we take in and ultimately for the entire health of our bodies.
Good digestion is the key to good health.
To protect against the cool, wet weather aromatic herbs and seasonal fruits and vegetables are recommended. Basil, cilantro, cinnamon, mint, and oregano are examples of aromatic herbs. Seasonal fruits and vegetables include squash, apples, dates, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and melons. Heavier fish like tuna and swordfish are recommended as well as eggs, chicken and wild game. Millet, barley, chickpeas and sesame seeds are also on the menu.