Concern for children’s health: After the beginning of spring, children should eat less sour foods and more sweet ones

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This post was last edited by slll611 on 2016-2-21 at 15:48. After the Beginning of Spring, yang energy begins to grow, marking a time for renewal and the emergence of new life. For children who are in the process of growing and developing, protection and care are particularly important. If the energy of spring growth is violated, it will damage the liver, preventing it from providing the energy needed for growth during summer; as a result, cold-related disorders will occur. I. When dressing, it is important to keep the back, abdomen, and soles of the feet warm. Lan Ying, an associate chief physician specializing in traditional Chinese medicine at Shenyang Children’s Hospital, says that after the beginning of spring, children’s clothing should be loose; girls’ hair should not be tied too tightly. For example, sportswear is convenient for physical activity, suits children’s natural tendency to be active, and helps promote the flow of energy and blood, which is beneficial for the growth of yang energy in spring. In early spring, when the weather is still cold despite occasional warmth, it is important to keep the following areas warm: the back, abdomen, and soles of the feet. A warm back can prevent diseases and reduce the risk of catching a cold; children should wear a cotton vest ； Keeping the abdomen warm is crucial for a baby’s spleen and stomach. Underwear can be slightly longer; it’s best to tuck it into the pants to protect the waist and abdomen ； The soles of the feet are highly innervated and thus the most sensitive areas. Wearing thick cotton socks on children keeps them warm and helps absorb sweat; only when their little feet are warm can their bodies adapt to changes in the external climate. II. In terms of diet, it is advisable to consume fewer acidic foods and more sweet ones. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that \"acidic flavors affect the liver\" while \"sweet flavors affect the spleen\", and the liver and spleen are organs that depend on each other. Spring is a season of prosperity and upward movement, and the same is true for the energy of the liver. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine recommends reducing acidic foods and increasing those that are sweet, as acidity has a converging effect; consuming acidic foods in spring can inhibit the upward movement of liver energy. Foods that are acidic, such as hawthorn, schisandra, and black plums, should be consumed in moderation. Lan Ying suggested that since the body’s metabolism speeds up and energy consumption increases in spring, it is advisable to consume foods that are sweet and warm in nature, as these help strengthen the spleen and boost yang energy; foods should be light and tasty. Fatty and cold foods should be avoided, and it is especially not recommended to consume too many highly pungent or hot foods. Products that are both invigorating and nutritious should be chosen, such as soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, tofu, barley, wheat, jujubes, lean meat, fish, eggs, peanuts, black sesame seeds, and citrus fruits ； In spring, it is also advisable to eat some fresh vegetables, such as bamboo shoots, spring chives, rape, spinach, celery, toon, and so on. III. It is advisable to go to bed early and get up early, as well as to be active. School-age children should get up around 6:30 in the morning and go to bed before 9 p.m. Since spring is the season of growth, people too need to grow and develop; it is necessary to get their qi and blood flowing, so they should be active and avoid being lazy. For children, doing more outdoor activities when the weather is good is beneficial to their growth and development. Furthermore, as winter gives way to spring and there is a shift from storage in winter to growth in spring, the regulation of emotions should also take into account the changes of the four seasons. The energy of spring relates to the liver, which thrives on openness and freedom. At this time, it is also important to praise children as much as possible and criticize them less, so that they remain happy, optimistic, and full of energy. IV. To prevent diseases, a balanced diet is needed to boost resistance. Lan Ying said that respiratory and digestive system diseases are common among children during this period. Common respiratory diseases include acute upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. The most common digestive system disorder is diarrhea. The most important thing in preventing diseases is to strengthen one’s resistance to them; therefore, babies must have a balanced diet to boost their immunity. For babies who are still nursing, breastfeeding should be encouraged as much as possible. Breast milk is not only the best food for a child’s physical and intellectual development, but it also contains several immunoglobulins that protect the respiratory mucosa, thereby reducing the incidence of respiratory diseases. In addition to breastfeeding, parents should also introduce complementary foods in a timely manner based on the baby’s growth and development needs, providing foods rich in vitamins such as fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat, in order to ensure a balanced diet and prevent picky eating. This helps avoid a deficiency in vitamins and trace elements, which could weaken the baby’s immune system.