A healthy diet best serves the spleen with plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, water, and essential fatty acids. A diet high in plant foods, mainly fruits, vegetables, and legumes, provide the nutrients your spleen needs to function at its best. Read on to learn which foods are good for your spleen.
Choosing foods high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein can keep your spleen functioning well
Coconut
One of the best foods for spleen health is coconut oil. It contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and healthy and energizing fats. They help the spleen function properly.
However, it is crucial to choose the right type of coconut oil. The best kind is unrefined and unprocessed. Avoid refined and processed versions, as they are more likely to contain chemicals and other toxins.
It is also best to purchase organic, unfiltered, or virgin coconut oil. This ensures the fatty acids have not been stripped of their nutrients.
Yellow and orange foods
Traditional medicine places a lot of stock on yellow foods for spleen health. A diet focusing on pumpkins, squashes, yams, corn, pineapple, and yellow lentils can help your spleen replenish energy.
Green vegetables
Eating various foods that support the spleen can help it function optimally. Spleen-healthy foods are nutrient-dense and low in calories and are packed with the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that the spleen needs to protect it against disease.
Dark leafy greens, such as kale and spinach, are some of the best spleen-healthy vegetables to include in your diet. They are rich in iron, which is necessary for the production of red blood cells, and have antioxidants that can protect your spleen from harm.
Blueberry
Besides vegetables, blueberries are another excellent food for the spleen. They are high in dietary fiber and can help to reduce bloating. They can also help to improve the overall health of the digestive tract. In addition, blueberries are high in niacin, vital for healthy brain function.
Chicken
Chicken is suitable for your spleen because it contains high levels of iron and zinc, which can boost your immunity. It can also provide other nutrients like potassium, vitamins A and C, and folic acid.
Banana
Bananas are a good source of Vitamin C, and they help with blood flow. They also contain potassium, which is essential for spleen function.
Herbs
In addition to dark leafy vegetables, spleen-healthy foods include garlic and ginger, both anti-inflammatory. These herbs can reduce inflammation in the spleen and enhance its ability to digest food.
Licorice root tea is another beneficial beverage for the spleen. It aids digestion, improves blood flow, and helps control water retention.
Also, try incorporating aromatic spices such as ginger, fennel, coriander, and cardamom into your diet. These herbs can warm the body, resolve dampness, and strengthen the Spleen Qi.
Soups and stews
Soups and stews provide a rich source of nutrients for the body, especially when made with bone broth. They are also warm and easy to digest, particularly beneficial for the spleen.
Soaking the bones of a chicken in water with salt, peppercorns, mustard seeds, onions, and garlic for a few hours to create a long-cooked soup stock can be a powerful healing practice for the spleen. The soup is easy to digest, nourishing the spleen and helping it expel dampness.
Whole grains
Whole grains are good for spleen health because they're easy for the body to digest and help promote digestive fire. They also contain anti-inflammatory nutrients, B vitamins, E, and fiber.
However, be careful when deciding which bread or cereal to choose. Look for one with the word "whole grain" or the Whole Wheat Council logo. It should also be the first ingredient listed on the label.
In Chinese medicine, whole grains, such as brown rice, barley, and oats, calm the Shen or Heart/Mind, strengthen Spleen Qi, boost Spleen Yang, benefit digestion, harmonize the spleen and stomach, soothe inflammation, regulate fluids and nourish the spleen.
In addition, eating whole grains helps you reduce your risk of cancer because they contain antioxidants and prebiotics that encourage gut bacteria to fight off disease-causing agents. In addition, they may lower markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Beans
The spleen plays a vital role in digestion. It helps transform and transport food and nutrients to the next stop in the digestive process, preventing bloating and fatigue.
Good foods for the spleen include lentils, beans, and other legumes rich in fiber and protein. They also contain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that can help support spleen health.
Beans can be particularly beneficial for spleen health because they are easy to digest and provide lasting energy. They also supply fiber, protein, and iron.
What factors can affect your spleen?
Factors that can damage your spleen are cold air, too much alcohol or caffeine, and too little sleep. Eating too many ultra-processed foods, such as junk food or fast food, can also weaken the spleen and increase your risk for conditions related to an enlarged spleen, such as NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).
Spleen health is closely linked to diet. Poor eating habits, such as skipping breakfast or going for late dinners, can weaken the spleen.
In addition, drinking a lot of coffee can weaken the spleen, and too much acidic juice or soda can irritate it. The spleen is susceptible to these dietary imbalances, so avoiding them is best.
Tips for spleen health
Good foods for the spleen include grains, root vegetables, and well-cooked food that makes the body feel warm and comfortable. These include rice pudding and pumpkin soups.
It is essential to have a balanced diet with plenty of different types of food. This will give your spleen energy to work correctly. You should eat three meals a day to help prevent digestive problems.
Choosing foods high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein can keep your spleen functioning well. This is especially true if you are suffering from fatigue or weak digestion.
Sweet foods are often suitable for the spleen because they are easy on the digestive system. However, too much sugar can harm the spleen because it can aggravate dampness.
Avoid sweet foods like sugary drinks, fruit juices, and chocolate if your spleen is weak. It would be best if you also tried to eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies instead of processed foods or junk food.
