We have had record high temperatures around the globe in recent years. In the midst of that kind of heat your natural impulse may be to grab an iced drink. But before you do that, consider what Chinese medicine has to say about cold.
In Chinese medicine, the stomach is a warm environment. It likes warm foods and drinks. At a minimum, beverages should be room temperature. When you put cold things in your stomach, it must work harder and use more of your digestive heat. This is the same heat you use to break down and digest your food. The more you deplete this energy source, the less efficient your digestion will become over time, which will lead to digestive imbalances, weakness and even weight gain. Your overall energy levels will be impacted which could lead to fatigue and other signs of imbalance, including headaches, acid reflux or sleep disturbances.
Western medicine will also tell you that cold causes vessels in your stomach to contract, so it actually makes it more difficult for your body to absorb the liquids. Hence room temperature or warm beverages are more suitable for hydrating and cooling off. This may seem counterintuitive, but take a moment to consider this.
Another way to consider how cold affects your body, is to just look at nature. When things in nature are cold or frozen, they literally contract and stop moving. That is what happens to a frozen lake in deep winter. Imagine the blood and qi flowing through your body. When you come in contact with cold, it will cause things to slow down, contract and not move freely. When this happens, you have stagnation and even pain.
The “no cold” rule was one of the first lessons my acupuncturist Dr. Nan Lu imparted to me when I first became his patient 20 years ago. It was hard to swallow at first. And I broke it many times. How could I not partake in J.P. Lick’s mint chocolate chip ice cream on a hot day while visiting Boston? What about my Alfred iced coffee? If you have strong digestion, an occasional ice cream treat is totally fine - but the regular imbibing of iced cold drinks and salads is what takes a toll on the body.
While it’s hard to change lifelong habits, the “no cold” rule is one that I take to heart and I encourage you to consider it. It helps me feel better and look better. I’ve learned to say no to iced water in restaurants and instead ask for room temperature water or hot tea. This is something Asian women have known for centuries because it was taught to them by their mothers and grandmothers. As a western woman, I’ve learned this lesson later in my life, but I’m grateful for it. Some people say “NWC” which stands for “not worth the calories”. I say “NWC” but for me it means “not worth the cold”.
© Marie Yuann 2024
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