Spring is the time for activity and the season to eat foods with upward energies, such as young, green, sprouting above-ground vegetables.
Just as the trees and shrubs start budding with the onset of spring, we start to loosen up as energy in the body begins to move up and out. Spring is naturally the time to nurture yang, our action principle. Appetite eases as the body shakes off the need to store energy as it did over the colder months. With the environments subtly support as the weather changes, people who want to lose weight can take advantage of the natural trends of spring to help them do more and eat less.
The Liver and the Gallbladder are the internal organs that are in the spotlight during spring. If the Liver and Gallbladder are supported and balanced during spring, the entire body will benefit immediately and be set up with the best possible health foundation to be strong and well in the season to come.
In general, foods that are good for spring are warm and ascending sweet foods. In early spring, try cabbage, sweet potato, carrot and beetroot. As the weather changes, move to mint, sweet rice, shitake mushrooms, peas, sunflower seeds, pine nuts and in late spring, cherries.
Gently warming pungent foods are particularly good for spring. These include fennel, oregano, rosemary, caraway, dill, bay leaf, grains, legumes and seeds. Pungent flavored foods stimulate circulation of Qi and blood, moving energy up and out. But remember, a little goes a long way. Pungents also regulate Qi, enhance digestion, disperse mucus, stimulate the Lungs, Blood and Heart, guard against mucus forming conditions such as common cold, remove obstructions and improve sluggish Liver function. Pungents make grains, legumes, nuts and seeds less mucus forming. Pungent foods you can add to your foods in spring include mint, spring onions, ginger, horseradish, chamomile and black pepper.
Sour is connected to the Liver. Sour strengthen the liver and is yin and cooling. It has a contracting, astringent effect and dries and firms. It helps strengthen tendons, improve bladder control, excessive sweating, diarrhea, sagging skin, hemorrhoids and prolapsed conditions. Once eaten, sour heads straight for the Liver. Examples of sour foods include lemons, limes, hawthorn fruit, pickles and rosehip. Vinegar is also sour.
Honey and mint tea is perfect for spring as is gently warming and encourages Qi upwards. Mung beans, green peas and green beans are color coordinated to enliven the spirit of spring.
Enjoy the energy of spring!
Referenced from Alex Tan (How to stay healthy in the spring)