Everyone knows by now that we should all be wearing masks and social distancing, wiping surfaces, and saying six feet apart. But did you know there are other tips and tricks to get you through winter healthy, happy, and whole?
One of the first things you always want to be mindful of is keeping your neck and head covered when you are outside and the wind is blowing. In Chinese medicine, there are points on the back of the neck that are considered Wind Gates. If too much cold wind enters through these wind gates, it can lead to what is called an invasion of cold, in our common vernacular is known as the common cold. So keep your neck and head covered with a scarf or wear a hoodie. Keep the wind out of your ears and off the back of your neck to help you avoid the pitfall of catching a cold.
Another important part of winter is to avoid cold raw foods. Your stomach likes warm cooked foods. Cold, raw is very hard on the digestive system. You can get away with it in the summer more because the outside cosmic force is that of heat so it balances that of the cold food. But during the coldness of winter be sure to nourish yourself with warm foods; soups stews, cooked meats, and roasted vegetables. Eat very little cold raw food. Also, make sure you're not drinking a lot of cold liquids, stick to room temperature or warm, waters and teas.
Here is a recipe from The Institute for Functional Medicine. This is a great Winter Recipe because it uses root vegetables and bakes them with chicken and herbs. Feel free to modify and add more delicious vegetables such as parsnips, rutabaga, sweet potato, etc. Root veggies are designed to be eaten in the winter. Enjoy!
Baked Chicken with Cabbage, Carrots, and Onions
Makes four servings
4 chicken breast halves (bone-in, skin-on)
1 head cabbage, chopped
1 large onion, cut into eighths
1 pound bag of baby carrots
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely minced (2–3 teaspoons)
1 head garlic, cloves separated and left unpeeled (or 4–5 teaspoons minced garlic)
1 lemon, quartered
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450° F.
- To a 12 x 16-inch glass dish or roasting pan, add chicken, cabbage, onion, and carrots.
In a small bowl, mix together ½ t salt, ½ t pepper, and minced rosemary. Sprinkle over chicken and veggies. Toss well.
- Arrange chicken so that it lies on top of veggies skin-side up. Also add garlic cloves and quartered lemon on top of veggies.
- In another small bowl, use whisk to mix together oil, vinegar, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Drizzle over the chicken and veggies.
- Roast in oven for 50 minutes. Chicken should be browned and cooked through. Vegetables should be tender.
Tips: Alternatively, consider roasting a whole chicken, instead of chicken breast halves.
Want more information on how Chinese Medicine can keep you healthy, happy and whole? Schedule a consultation with one of our practitioners and we will be happy to explain how we can help you feel fabulous. Call J.J. at 910.262.1122 ext 2 to schedule your consultation today.