Restore Your Balance

In Chinese medicine, January is considered to be the most yin time of year - a restorative time to rebuild tissues, rest, and reflect inward before the spring. Sauerkraut and other fermented foods like pickles and pickled beets, take center stage in January.

Many fermented foods are both warming and sour, which will not only create heat, but also moisten your glands and even your skin. These sour foods soften your skin, combating dryness as they release oils with the opening of the pores. Enjoy them, as well as vinegars, pickles, and pickled beets. These foods were traditionally the only foods available in late winter, and they are perfect for the season! Try this simple Pickled red beet salad with goat cheese recipe.