Ⅲ.Keep Your Kidney Health

In Harmony with the Seasons --

The idea of "follow the path of least resistance"is associated with the Eastern viewpoint of Taoism and contemplation of the flow of water. Taoist philosophy is based on an ages old observation of the cycles of nature and the effects these have on all life, including our bodies. Being in harmony with the seasons affords us good health and mental well-being. In our own culture, we have the example of the agrarian lifestyle in which many farm people follow a similar cycle throughout the year.

In many health practices, winter is thought to most impact the functioning of the kidneys because of the cold and precipitation. This means that if there are existing imbalances in the kidneys, they will be exacerbated by the weather. Symptoms of kidney imbalance include poor clearance of toxins through the kidneys, water retention, urinary tract infections, mucous accumulations, coldness, rheumatic complaints, tiredness and dizziness. In the case of kidney imbalance, this translates into cleansing the kidneys before the onset of winter, which includes modifying the diet according to seasonal availability and adding mild herbs supporting kidney function to our regimen.

Food

Eating in harmony with the seasons means using foods that come to market from your local region or from other similar climate zones at the same latitude. These foods tend to support the body's needs in dealing with the weather of that season and the challenges it brings