Best Foods for Your Period: Try Yin Nourishing Millet Congee

Essential Takeaways

  • What should you be eating on your period to alleviate cramps and manage PMS symptoms? Incorporate this nourishing meal into your routine, a traditional recipe passed down from Elix founder Lulu Ge’s family, rooted in the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) where food serves as medicine.

  • Each ingredient—Chinese yam, ginger, lotus seed, jujube, and goji berry—plays a vital role in promoting balance and health, supporting various bodily functions from digestion to mental well-being.

  • The recipe is designed to be easy to prepare, making the health benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine accessible to everyone through everyday cooking, enhancing both physical and emotional health.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods aren't just sustenance; they're potent sources of healing. Today, we'll explore Yin Nourishing Millet Congee, a comforting and nutritious dish designed to harmonize and nourish your body's Yin energy to provide calming relief during your period. This recipe isn't just delicious; it's a fantastic addition to your meal-prepping schedule, essential for when your energy might be low during your period.

What is Yin?

In TCM, Yin represents the body's cooling, calming, and moistening forces, crucial for maintaining balance and health. The follicular phase (right after menstruation) is the ideal time in the menstrual cycle to focus on nourishing Yin energy, as the body rebuilds after menstruation.

Yin Nourishing Millet Congee Recipe (10-12 servings):

Ingredients:

  • 8 cups of bone broth or preferred liquid

  • 1 cup of organic millet

  • 2 cups of Chinese yam (shānyào) - can substitute purple yams or any yam available locally

  • 3-4 thick slices of peeled ginger

  • 1 cup of lotus seeds

  • 1 cup of jujubes, sliced

  • 1/2 cup of goji berries (for garnish)
    Directions:

    1. Soak lotus seeds overnight or for 3-4 hours to soften.

    2. With lotus seeds and ginger slices added, bring bone broth to a boil.

    3. Add millet, yams, and jujubes; simmer covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    4. Add goji berries and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

    5. Add in your Elix formula of choice to your individual serving:

      1. Cycle Balance - to maintain a healthy hormone balance

      2. Daily Harmony - when you need a little extra help with the stress response 

      3. Stay Well - if you’re feeling worn out and need a little more immune support 

      4. Get Well - when you’re feeling sick and need a boost 

    6. Serve and enjoy the Yin nourishment!

      Traditional Chinese Medicine Benefits:
      • Chinese Yam (shānyào): Nourishes the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung organ systems, aiding digestion and respiratory health.

      • Ginger: Aids digestion and helps with inflammation.

      • Lotus Seeds: Calms the mind, supporting mental health.

      • Jujube: Tonifies the blood, promotes calm, and supports digestion.

      • Goji Berries: Strengthen the Liver, Kidney, and Lung organ systems, rich in antioxidants.

                    Benefits of Congee:

                    Congee is easily digestible, making it an excellent choice during menstruation or illness when your body needs to conserve energy for healing rather than digestion. It's a warm bowl of nutritious and healing comfort food.

                    Wondering what combination of Elix formulas is right for you? Sign-up for a Health Coach session with one of our licensed TCM practitioners today!

                    This article was reviewed by Zoey Gong. 

                    Zoey Gong is a Traditional Chinese Medicine nutritionist, food therapist, and chef. Her recipes have been featured in various publications, including the cover of Food & Wine magazine in the February 2023 issue. She’s the author of The Five Elements Cookbook: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine with Recipes for Everyday Healing, where she guides readers in the basics of TCM through encyclopedic entries on common ingredients and 50 nourishing recipes.

                    You May Also Like

                    Explore content from our team of doctors, nutritionists, herbalists, and healers.

                    Clinically proven to improve period & hormone health

                    Your cycle is uniquely yours, and your Elix treatment is no different. All you need to do is answer a few questions to help us determine what your body needs to rebalance and heal.

                    TAKE THE ASSESSMENT