During the three months of winter, plants wither, it gets cold and insects hibernate; all things in nature are closed and hidden. Winter health preservation should conform to the concealment of Yang energy within the human body, with the principle of restraining Yin energy and protecting Yang energy.
1. Sweat less: Winter belongs to Yin, so consolidating Yin essence is fundamental. One should avoid losing body fluids. Therefore, during winter one should "avoid cold and keep warm". Preventing cold invasion is necessary. However, one should not overheat, especially avoiding thick clothing, drunkenness by the fire, roasting the abdomen and back, or excessive sweating due to overheating.
2. Keep feet healthy: Healthy feet mean a healthy body. People must always keep their feet clean and dry, frequently wash and change socks. Every day, persist in washing your feet with warm water while massaging and stimulating acupoints on the feet. Walk for more than half an hour every day to exercise your feet. Persistently rub the soles of your feet morning and evening to promote blood circulation. In addition, choosing a pair of comfortable, warm, light, and moisture-absorbing shoes is also very important.
3. Prevent illness: Winter climate can induce chronic diseases to recur or worsen. Cold can also stimulate myocardial infarction and stroke, raising blood pressure and exacerbating symptoms of ulcers and other diseases. Therefore, patients should pay attention to keeping warm and preventing the adverse effects of strong wind and temperature drops, and have medicine ready. Meanwhile, they should also emphasize cold-resistance exercises to enhance their ability to withstand cold and resist disease, and prevent respiratory diseases from occurring.
4. Replenish water: Although perspiration and urination decrease in winter, brain cells and cells in various organs of the body still need water nourishment to ensure normal metabolism. Generally, one should replenish no less than 2000-3000 milliliters of water daily in winter.
5. Adjust spirit: Winter easily makes people feel low in both body and mind. The best way to change low mood is through activity, such as jogging, dancing, skating, playing ball games, etc., which are good ways to eliminate winter gloom and maintain mental health.
6. Good air quality: Indoor air pollution in winter is dozens of times worse than outdoors. People should often open windows for ventilation to clean the air and refresh the brain.
7. Porridge for nourishment: Winter diet should avoid sticky, hard, raw, and cold foods. Nutrition experts advocate drinking hot porridge in the morning and eating less at dinner to nurture stomach energy. Especially suitable are mutton porridge, glutinous rice red dates lily porridge, eight treasures porridge, and millet milk rock sugar porridge.
8. Go to bed early: In winter, Yang energy is severe, especially at night. Ancient people advocated "going to bed early and getting up late." Go to bed early to nurture Yang energy, and get up late to consolidate Yin essence.