Brrrrr-rrr-rrr! It’s October in Boulder, and dare I say, it’s unbelievably cold outside? Each day on my way to work, I can’t help but notice at least a handful of people walking down the street holding iced coffee, wearing cropped pants & ballerina flats or flip flops with bare feet, despite snow on the ground & bone-chilling winds. This astounds me.
Despite my daily sightings of these “cold resistant” folks, I see ten times that amount of people in my practice suffering from symptoms caused by cold. These include cold hands & feet, gas & bloating, constant runny nose, sinus issues, poor digestion, low back pain, low energy, foggy brain, poor circulation, infertility, and menstrual cramps, just to name a few.
For now, I’ve compiled this list of 8 of the most cold-inducing things that may compromise your health and a few home remedies for warming yourself back up. All of these cold items are particularly hard on the Spleen. Those of us who practice Chinese Medicine believe that all disease starts in the gut. That’s why it’s important to keep the Spleen happy if you want to have strong immunity and age like a martial arts master.
1. ICED COFFEE
Cold drinks are hard on the digestive fire, especially when it’s cold outside. I love a big ol’ iced tea in August, but drinking cold drinks in the winter can slow your digestion. If this happens, it often leads to gas, bloating & low energy. Other possible issues can be more PMS symptoms, muscle pain, and, over a long period of time, can even lead to infertility struggles and weight gain, so instead of a cold beverage when it’s cold outside, warm your tummy up with some hot tea. Tasty adaptogenic teas are an excellent choice.
2. SALAD
Salad, in and of itself, can have so many nutritive properties–especially when you add wonderful things like kale, avocado, nuts & seaweed. However, since salad is a raw food it is hard on your belly when eaten without something warm to encourage proper digestion.
In Chinese Medicine, the Spleen is the main organ in charge of digestion and typically the first organ to freak out when it is not treated right. When ingesting cold food, like everything on this list, the Spleen has to expend a lot of energy to warm up the food before it can begin the digestion process. When there is not enough energy, it can run out of fuel before the digestion process has finished. This leads to that 3 pm energy slump, unexplained water weight, low energy, lethargy, sugar cravings, heaviness in the limbs, and inability to lose weight. Save the salads for summer, and instead, indulge yourself in a Nurturing Vegetable Broth or bubbly casserole for now.
3. JUICING
Wow, juicing has become wildly popular! How could it not when it looks so beautiful? And so many people, health coaches, and bloggers also say how healthy it is for you. Fresh juice is liquid Qi, and that is very intriguing. With its yummy concentrated flavors, it’s like sunshine in a glass. However, juicing, like all trends, must be taken with a grain of salt.
Juicing easily damages digestion for a few main reasons: Juices are energetically cold, and they are full of sugar. This damages the Spleen and the digestive fire, which is especially important to foster during the colder months. Unless you are consistently hot, have a fast metabolism, a red tongue, and tend to sweat quite easily, more than 8 oz of juice per day leads to what we call ‘damp’ conditions in Chinese Medicine. This manifests as a thick coat on the tongue, low energy, heavy limbs, runny nose, chronic sinus issues, gas & bloating, and feeling cold all the time.
Seasonally speaking, Juicing is fantastic in the SPRING. And by spring, I mean May. Because juicing is so cooling, doing a juice cleanse when it is still cold outside will do more damage than good to your Spleen and digestion. It’s best to wait until it’s warm outside, and even then, if you still have any of these issues, try drinking some warming teas with ginger, turmeric, curcumin, & cinnamon to counterbalance all of the cold & dampness.
4. SMOOTHIES
Closely related to juicing, is it’s frosty cousin–The Smoothie. Yet another fallacy pointing to ‘weight loss’, the smoothie often becomes a vessel for inducing diabetic episodes in many an innocent soul. Similar to juicing, the smoothie is also typically full of sugar, the main difference is that it’s even colder than juice with it’s primary ingredients being frozen, or the addition of ice–think blended popsicles. Many restaurants and juice shops also add huge amounts of sugar into the smoothie, making it very yummy but also very inflammatory or “damp” to the body. So, there appear to be a few reasons to avoid smoothies. A better choice would be to simply eat a delicious piece of fresh fruit, which will not have as high a sugar content.
5. COCONUT ICE CREAM
Well…all ice cream. I find that the worst offenders are people who are addicted to Coconut Ice Cream, but all of it hurts you just the same. Coconut Ice Cream tends to fall in the category purported to be healthier for you than regular ice cream. Hearing this makes us think we can enjoy this tasty treat more than we should. However, especially for those on limited diets who no longer eat dairy…the power of the coconut is strong!
For now, I will urge you to avoid the frozen section at the store at least until May. Eating any form of ice cream or sorbet–especially at night–contributes to being freezing cold all the time, having constant sinus issues, stuffy ears or runny nose, foggy brain, low energy, and eventually will cause weight gain going to bed with a cod stomach. If you need something sweet after dinner, baked apples or pears with honey or even a little dark chocolate is the healthier choice.
6. ANTIBIOTICS
By now you have probably read plenty about how controversial and polarizing Antibiotics are. One thing you should know is that Antibiotics (ABX) were one of the biggest revelations in health care as we know it. Before their discovery in 1928, many people suffered dearly and even died from many conditions that are considered easily treatable today, such as salmonella, tuberculosis, syphilis, and some forms of meningitis. That being said, a sore throat or even a sinus infection is not enough reason to pummel your digestive tract with such severe medications.
Like everything on this list, ABX is very cold and produces ‘damp’ in the body. On the one hand, this is good because they can dramatically cool down inflammation when fighting bacterial infections. On the other hand, they don’t have much regulatory ability, so they also tend to cool the digestive tract too much, especially with repetitive use. This is the main reason they are not good to take too often.
Antibiotic Resistance
‘ABX Resistance’ is related to what I said earlier about Chinese Medicine, stating that all health starts in the gut. Repeated ABX use can lead to resistance, often requiring stronger medicine each time one gets sick. According to Chinese Medicine principles, we need a certain degree of healthy digestive fire to support a healthy immune system. All of the symptoms I am speaking of in this article, like cold limbs, slow digestion, runny nose, chronic sinus issues, gas & bloating, are all signs of a weakening digestive system. This will ultimately affect your immunity.
If you have never seen a Chinese Herbalist, what are you waiting for? You will be amazed at how effective Chinese Herbs are for all respiratory and digestive issues. They are also great for allergies, sinusitis, and just about everything under the sun. They say that Western Medicine is the Study of What Makes You Sick, and Chinese Medicine is the Study of What Makes You Healthy. Building up a stronger body, a stronger digestion, and a stronger immunity is never a bad idea. This is where Chinese Medicine truly excels!
7. TOFU
Tofu’s primary energetic is also cold and produces damp in the body, which isn’t that surprising if you’ve ever cooked with it. Ever noticed how squishy it is? It’s solidified soy milk. However, tofu is also quite versatile, and while bland in flavor by itself, tofu readily takes on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with. If you eat tofu regularly, try adding some hot chili paste and curry for more warmth, then oven roast it to dry it out a bit. This will help your digestion feel better.
8. SUSHI
Dear Gentle Readers, please understand I am truly sorry for this one, but I would rather tell you the whole truth so you can make educated decisions. Raw fish is very cold. This is perhaps why Sushi is often served with ginger, wasabi, saké, and miso soup–all warming items. I certainly don’t want to rain on your sushi parade because it IS one of the most beautiful and artful foods on earth; make sure you partake in all the warming items available to accompany your meal.
In conclusion
Improve your digestive health with Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, and nutrition. Remember to eat what is best for your body based on the seasons, keep your belly warm, and smile often. For more information, come to Hummingbird Wellness in Boulder, CO.
