Happy Summer!  It is hot and humid in Connecticut today, and a very appropriate time to talk about the Summer phase of the Five Seasons.

What are the Five Seasons?

The Chinese believe that the seasons are surrounded by five energy fields: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.  These energy fields dictate things such as our emotional states and correspond to specific areas of the body.  The  fields also correspond to our tastes and senses and therefore to the food choices we should be gravitating towards in a particular season.

The Wood phase corresponded with Spring, green foods, sour foods and the liver (read about the Wood phase here).  This is a very cleansing phase and the liver, the champion of natural detoxing,  supported that perfectly.  We are now ready to enter an entirely new phase of the seasons, the Fire phase.  And our hot, humid ninety degree day today is certainly a reflection of that!  Fire is all energy .  The Fire phase supports our circulation, heart and small intestine.  The taste that corresponds with the Fire phase is bitter and the color is red – think red lentils, dandelion greens, corn, asparagus, escarole, tomatoes, apricots, raspberries, strawberries, sunflower seeds, and chocolate.

The Five Phases helps us balance meals and eat seasonally and  if I am feeling out of synch in the season of the moment, I like to refer to the Five Phases.  Click here to learn more about the phases and how they can help you.

Every year when entering the Fire phase I start thinking about this Corn and Avocado Salsa.   This bright, healthy recipe encompasses foods right out of the Fire phase and is perfect for hot weather cooking. Try it today and let me know what you think.

How do you feel about using the Five Phases?  Leave your comments below, I would love to hear from you!

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