p class="text">Since it is now Winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, the time of Water…… This Season is Winter and there are considerations for living in tune with the natural cycle of life, to promote optimum wellness. Winter is the time of the kidney. At this time the kidneys are most vulnerable to damage, but it's also the time when they are most responsive to nurturing and efforts at restoring balance. Remember to drink plenty of water to help the kidneys do their job. The kidneys are where our life-force, or "jing" is stored. How much of this essence an individual has is based upon the luck of inheritance, current age, and how well she or he has conserved his or her personal resources. Winter is the time of year for conserving resources, "the nuts that have been hidden and put away during the fall." Getting plenty of sleep and rest, minimizing stress and eating nourishing warm foods is essential for recharging our batteries during the cold months, as is taking time out for self-reflection. Practicing yoga, Tai Qi or Qi Gong is also highly recommended. To conserve resources, drink hot tea or cocoa instead of coffee, as coffee quickly depletes the jing. Winter is the time of the kidney and the kidney's color is black. For this reason, many people, especially in China, wear black in winter to conserve one's personal resources. Be sure to keep your neck warm and bundled up, especially the back of the neck, when outside to avoid catching a cold. These practices will boost your immunity and your resistance to cold. Slow down and remember to allow more time to do all the additional tasks that come with winter-like scraping your windshield in the morning and driving slower on icy roads. During the winter months it is best to avoid eating cooling foods such as raw tofu, blue-green algae, melons, cucumbers, ice cream and iced drinks. Save them for summertime. Cooked foods are best to eat when it's cold outside, since the body requires more energy for staying warm. Raw foods are more difficult to digest and are cooling. Thus, eating raw foods when it's cold outside (winter in the Northern hemisphere) puts additional demands on the earth element of the body: the digestive system, by reducing the efficiency of nutrient extraction. Over time, this can cause bleak digestion and digestive complaints, weakened immunity and a weakened body. For optimum health during the winter months, be sure to eat plenty of hearty, warming foods such as root vegetables, casseroles, meats, stews and chilies. Have a joyous, healthy winter time!! Back to Health Update