Food as medicine: Chinese dietetic tips for putting a spring in your step

Recommended Spring Foods

Avoid: dry and hot foods such as coffee and spices. Also avoid ice-cold foods and beverages such as ice-cream as they abruptly block the stomach's digestive energy. Also avoid hot and fatty foods as they block the liver.

Try: mildly warming foods such as fennel, rice, buckwheat, garlic, paprika, ginger as these will remove any acumulated dampness left over from the colder months. Add sour flavours as they stimulate the liver. Anything GREEN, neutral or cool. Green tea, spinach, celery, sprouts, green onions and ginger.