the importance of a
Spleen-Friendly diet for Healthy
digestion & Metabolism
by Leslie Carbone, Lic.Ac., Dipl.Ac.
The spleen energy system,
When the spleen is not adequately
according to traditional Chinese
nourished or supported, it cannot
medical theory, is the cornerstone
transform or transport food
to your digestive health. The
properly and becomes sluggish
spleen, energetically, plays a
causing digestive distress. Typical
“transforming and transporting”
symptoms that occur when the
role in the body. It is responsible
spleen energy system is out of
for transforming the food and
balance include: gas, bloating,
nutrients that you ingest into
distended abdomen after eating,
substances that your body can
acid reflux, stomach noises, sluggish
use. It then transports these
metabolism and weight gain.
substances throughout the body.
This process of transformation
The key to healthy metabolism
functioning of your spleen energy
and transportation is what gives
and healthy digestion is a happy
system. Incorporate these tips into
you your energy and sustains your
and healthy spleen. The following
your daily life and take note of the
organ and vital systems.
tips will help you strengthen the
changes that occur in your body.
Top 10 Tips to Improve Digestion and Boost Metabolism
1. Eat in a calm, relaxed
involved in the digestive process.
work double-time. The digestive
environment.
Be sure to sit upright and be
process requires warmth.
Let’s face it, we often eat our
comfortable.
Excessive eating or drinking of
meals on the run in our cars, in
all things cold will eventually
front of the television, or while
2. Chew your food!
weaken your digestive fire and
we’re multitasking at work or at
Digestion begins in your mouth
slow metabolism.
home. If you can find the time
as our teeth play a very important
to sit down and really focus on
role in breaking the bonds of our
4. Limit dairy and sweets.
mealtime, you will find that your
food and initiating the digestion
The spleen corresponds to
digestion will improve. Digestion
process. Inadequately chewing
the sweet flavor according to
works best when you enjoy your
your food makes your stomach
traditional Chinese medicine.
food and are focused on your
work harder to digest your lunch
Excess intake of sweets and
meal. Distractions such as TV,
or dinner.
dairy when your spleen is not
reading a book or doing work take
functioning properly can lead to
away vital energy and attention
3. Cooked vs. raw… and
damp accumulation and weight
from your digestive system.
skip the ice.
gain. Give your spleen a brake
Eating with your legs crossed
When you eat food or drink liquid
and cut down on the amount of
or in a hunched over posture
that is cold in nature such as raw
dairy and sweets that you eat and
restricts energy flow along
foods or ice-cold beverages,
drink.
important energetic meridians
our stomach and spleen have to
See HEALTHY page 38
Fall 2009
aspiremag.net
37
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