Keep in step with the quiet, nurturing Yin nature of winter 

 The winter months of the year often find us in a frantic state of shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy activity. Yet instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or depressed. The reason, according to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is that the action-packed schedules we keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth’s natural cycles.

We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, so when we engage in behaviors more appropriate for summer, such as staying up late and dashing around town it’s no wonder were left feeling a bit run down.

TCM philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of yin and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted. Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving energy in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer stores food for the cold months ahead.

In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food and sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between winter’s restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way many Americans spend their winters can contribute to seasonal affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other manifestations of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

To stay balanced during winter, conserve your yang energy.  Activates like Yoga, especially restorative or slow flowing classes are best suited for yin season, as they safeguard your energy reserves. Think of these practices as an investment of your energy paycheck, don’t use up what little winter energy you have with over activity and added stress.

Eating cooked, spicy yang foods provides another good way to replenish energy. Prepare yang-strengthening soups, slow-simmered stews, beans, roasted root vegetables, and warm drinks. Add yang spices such as garlic, ginger, black pepper, cloves, and basil to increase the warming effect. Minimize your intake of yin foods such as raw vegetables, salad greens, and cold drinks.

Winter does have its challenges but healthy eating shouldn’t be one of them

 Chilies and curries can make excellent choices to warm your evenings up. A current favorite of mine, Chickpea and lentil curry  is a healthy, tasty winter warmer.

 Chickpea and lentil curry

5 mins to prepare. 20 mins to cook.

Serves 4

This recipe is a fantastic curry, easy to make, satisfying and tasty, perfect for winter evenings.

Ingredients

 Method

Peel the onion, garlic and ginger slicing all thinly.

Heat the oil in a non-stick saucepan over a medium heat, when the oil is warm, add the onion, garlic and ginger and soften.

When the onions are soft and translucent, add the spices and stir well.

Next add the tinned tomatoes, stock, chickpeas and lentils.

Turn the heat down, cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes until the lentils are cooked.