Spring is a season of strong yang energy growth, and the body enters a period of enhanced metabolism. During this time, one organ becomes particularly active—the liver.

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the liver belongs to the wood element and is responsible for regulating qi and blood circulation while uplifting energy. That’s why there is a saying: "The liver thrives in spring."

However, excessive liver activity can lead to various issues, such as:
💢 Internal heat, irritability, insomnia
💢 Poor appetite, indigestion, bloating
💢 Mouth ulcers, canker sores, and eye discomfort

If your diet is improper during this season—especially if you consume too many sour or cold foods—it can overstimulate the liver, weaken the spleen and stomach, and disrupt qi and blood balance.

Here are two food groups you should limit in spring to maintain healthy qi and blood circulation:

1️⃣ Limit Sour Foods in Spring

🍋 Sour foods cause qi contraction, making liver qi rise even more

According to TCM, sour flavors directly affect the liver, causing qi and blood to contract. This intensifies liver qi, which can lead to irritability, restlessness, red eyes, and dry mouth—like adding fuel to a fire.

📖 Ancient medical text "Plain Questions – The Theory of Organ Qi and Seasonal Laws" states:
"The liver governs spring… When liver qi is excessive, sweetness should be used to soothe it; when liver qi is stagnant, pungent flavors should be used to promote circulation. Sour foods should be avoided in excess."

🍑 Sour foods to limit in spring:
🚫 Overly sour fruits: Plums, tamarind, starfruit, sour oranges, lemons
🚫 Pickled foods: Pickled cucumbers, kimchi, fermented eggplants
🚫 Vinegar and sour sauces

🛑 Why should you avoid sour foods in spring?
❌ Overactive liver function + sour foods = intensified liver qi, leading to internal heat, irritability, and headaches
❌ Sour flavors constrict qi and blood, making it harder for the liver to detoxify, which can cause toxin buildup
❌ Too many sour foods impair the spleen and stomach, leading to weak qi and blood, poor digestion, and loss of appetite

🌟 What should you eat instead?
✅ Opt for naturally sweet foods like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, brown rice, and oats to support the spleen and boost qi and blood.
✅ Include mildly pungent foods like onions, garlic, chives, and ginger to help smooth liver qi flow.

📌 Liver-friendly foods for spring:
✔️ Onions, garlic, and ginger to promote qi circulation
✔️ Celery, fennel, and chives to support liver detoxification
✔️ Mint and perilla leaves for natural body cleansing

💡 If you're not used to eating onions or garlic, try drinking mint tea, perilla tea, or ginger tea to support liver qi flow.

2️⃣ Limit Cold Foods in Spring

🥶 Cold foods weaken the spleen and stomach, leading to poor digestion and weak qi and blood

During spring, the spleen and stomach are naturally suppressed by the liver. If you eat too many cold foods, your spleen will weaken, resulting in:
💢 Bloating, indigestion, stomach pain
💢 Loss of appetite, poor digestion
💢 Fatigue and low energy due to weak qi and blood

📌 Cold foods to avoid:
🚫 Iced drinks, cold water, ice cream
🚫 Cooling vegetables: Water spinach, amaranth, cabbage, celery
🚫 Cooling fruits: Watermelon, pears, oranges, pomelos, cantaloupe

⚠️ Important Notes:
🔹 Coldness is not about temperature but food properties—for example, watermelon, pears, and celery are naturally cooling, even if not refrigerated.
🔹 If you frequently experience stomach pain, poor digestion, or cold hands and feet, limit cold foods to protect your spleen.

💡 How to protect digestion in spring:
✅ Avoid raw and cold foods
✅ Drink warm water instead of cold water
✅ Eat easy-to-digest foods to nourish the spleen and enhance qi

🍵 Foods That Strengthen Digestion & Improve Qi and Blood

1️⃣ Brown Rice & Multigrain Porridge

🌾 Brown rice, red beans, millet, lotus seeds
🥣 Cooked into a porridge to enhance digestion, nourish the spleen, and boost qi and blood.

2️⃣ Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Porridge

🍠 Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, glutinous rice
🥣 Supports qi and blood, increases energy, and promotes digestion.

3️⃣ Oatmeal with Lotus Seeds & Red Dates

🍏 Oats, lotus seeds, red dates, rock sugar
🥣 Strengthens qi and blood, reduces fatigue, and promotes restful sleep.

🧘‍♂️ Best Spring Practices for Balancing Liver and Spleen

🔥 1. "Pulling the Bow" Stretch (Ba Duan Jin Exercise)
This movement promotes liver qi circulation, reduces stress, and aids digestion.
How to do it:

• Stand upright, extend both arms outward as if pulling a bow.
• Inhale deeply and rotate the shoulders.

🦶 2. Herbal Foot Soak
A foot soak with mint, perilla leaves, ginger, and lemongrass helps relax the body and improve qi circulation.

• Soak feet for 15-20 minutes before bed to improve blood circulation and reduce stress.

🎯 Conclusion: Eat Smart in Spring for a Healthy Body

🌱 In spring, limit:
❌ Sour foods (which overstimulate liver qi and disrupt qi and blood balance)
❌ Cold foods (which weaken digestion and harm spleen function)

✅ Instead, eat naturally sweet and mildly pungent foods to promote smooth qi circulation.

💡 A balanced diet + gentle exercises = strong qi and blood, a healthier body! 🚀