Best TCM Diet For 2025: Easily Stick To Your Resolution To Lose Weight

Did you lose the battle of the bulge this holiday season? Don’t feel guilty and blame yourself. It’s far too easy to succumb to gingerbread cookies, candy canes, cakes, and other Christmas holiday party treats. 

Now that you’ve indulged, however, you need to commit to making healthy changes. 

What should you do if you’re considering going on a diet after Jan. 1? Keto, intermittent fasting, Paleo or a combination? Well, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the best diet for the start of 2025 is the one that’s been working for over 5,000 years. 

The Best TCM Diet For Winter

Many people just like being told exactly what to eat. If that’s you, then according to the ancient philosophy of 5 Element Theory, here’s precisely what you should fill your belly with at the start of the new year. 

Winter is associated with the Kidney organ system. It’s no coincidence that kidney beans and other beans resembling the kidney organ’s physical shape are ideal for eating from a TCM perspective. In TCM theory, the Kidney organ system functions in 3 primary ways:

• As in Western medicine, they regulate the body’s fluids
• Store the body’s life force energy (Jing)
• Encourage Yin/Yang balance 

Thus as the saying goes, “beans, beans they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the better your Kidney organ system will feel, so eat beans at every meal.” Okay, so the original version is a little different, but it’s adapted with an ancient twist. 

However, many people do, in fact, experience bloating and gas after eating beans. This is because many commercial varieties of beans contain a hard outer shell. This shell contains proteins called lectins. Lectins are anti-nutrients. This means that they interfere with mineral absorption and are difficult to digest. However, a better way to digest beans to minimize the lectin content is to pre-soak them in water overnight before cooking. 

Kidney-Nourishing Foods in TCM

In addition to loading up on beans, which other foods should you eat in winter, according to TCM theory? 

Try sipping on bone broth. You can even add one of ActiveHerb.com’s instant extract granules, such as Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia root), for a double boost of Kidney-nourishing properties. In addition, other foods will be easy for your body to digest. Not only that, these foods will help nourish your overall Qi (energy) as well as help fortify the blood and encourage more warming, Yang energy to radiate through your body. 

But salads and cold/raw food are not ideal for wintertime. They can lead to insufficient digestion or indigestion (Spleen Qi deficiency). However, one exception to the rule is dark, leafy greens. Enjoy these as much as possible to nourish Kidney QI. 

Other best TCM foods for winter include black sesame seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, beef, lamb, stews and warming spices such as ginger, garlic, cardamom and cloves. 

As for the best veggies, go with baked root vegetables such as yams or sweet potatoes. You can also help nourish your body in winter by consuming plenty of easy-to-digest whole grains, nuts, and seeds, salty fish and sea vegetables like seaweed. 

If you find that your skin feels like a reptile this time of year because of the dry, cold air, eat lots of soups and stews. They’re like moisturizers for your body—from the inside out. 

How To Overcome Sugar Cravings In TCM

 Once you’ve filled your belly three-quarters full with the foods listed above (without drinking cold water; opt for warm or green herbal tea instead), what should you do if you crave something sweet? 

In winter, one of the best desserts is baked pears sprinkled with cinnamon. Baked pears nourish and protect the lungs. This action is critical in the colder months when viruses thrive.

By keeping your consumption of added sugars to a minimum, you’ll support your Spleen Qi (digestion) in winter. And there’s no healthier way to support a sweet tooth than turning to Mother Nature’s candy: fruit. In particular, dark berries align with the best diet in TCM for winter. 

Conclusion

The concept of supporting the health of the environment and the body by eating locally and seasonally has gained traction in the West. In the Far East, it’s a 5000-year-old trend. If you’re looking for the best diet to start after the New Year, turn to ancient wisdom. And don’t forget to slow down this winter!

What are your favorite foods to eat in winter? Leave a comment below.