When Yin awakens hunger

This is no surprise in TCM. When Yang (heat/activity) decreases and Yin (cold/rest) increases, your entire system slows down.

The spleen - your digestive center - becomes sluggish. Moisture accumulates. The body goes into storage mode.

And when you understand what's happening, you can stop fighting - and start living with your body. Not against it.

🧠 1. lack of light changes your appetite - about serotonin & melatonin

As the days get shorter, your serotonin levels - the hormone that keeps you stable, happy and focused - drop along with the daylight.

At the same time, melatonin increases - you become more tired. And tiredness makes you susceptible to cravings for quick energy.

→ The body seeks comfort food: Sweet, fatty, quickly available.
→ The head thinks: „I just don't have any willpower left.“
→ But biologically this is quite normal - and even vital been.

The TCM perspective: What we measure today as serotonin deficiency is called „the shen (spirit) withdraws“ in TCM. Without light, there is no joy. Without joy, the spleen seeks sweetness - its natural flavor. It is not a failure. It is a cry for help from your center.

💡 More body fat used to mean more body fat: more protection, more reserves. Your body has not forgotten this ancient wisdom.

🍽 2. ghrelin & leptin - the invisible power behind your hunger pangs

Two hormones determine your appetite:

🔹 Ghrelin: The hunger hormone. It increases when you are stressed or get little sleep.

🔹 Leptin: The satiety hormone. It decreases in cold weather, lack of light and lack of sleep.

The result?
→ More hunger. Less satiety.
→ You eat more - not out of greed, but because your body is sending the wrong signals.

What TCM says about it: Hunger and satiety are controlled by the spleen. If it is weakened (by cold, stress, irregular eating), it can no longer send clear signals. You lose the feeling of „enough“. The solution lies not in control, but in strengthening your center.

And no: You don't regulate this with discipline. But with rhythm, sleep and the right timing of your meals.

🦠 3. your gut talks to you - about the microbiome

Your microbiome changes with the season.
Studies show: In winter, inflammation-promoting bacteria increase - especially when the diet is low in fiber.

The result:

• More flatulence & bloating
• Stronger craving for sugar
• Sluggish digestion → apparent „weight gain“

TCM wisdom: What we call the microbiome today is described by TCM as „Medium warmer“. When it gets cold, it produces moisture and mucus. This „pathogenic dampness“ makes you sluggish, bloated and tired. The stool becomes mushy, the stomach bloats, thoughts become foggy.

This has nothing to do with discipline. It has to do with intestinal flora, inflammation levels and metabolic regulation.

✅ What you can do - without falling into diet mode

1. rhythm instead of counting calories

• 3 solid, warm meals a day - Your spleen loves regularity
• Breakfast between 7-9 am - Stomach time according to the organ clock
• No snacking after 7 pm - Let your center come to rest
• Warm, cooked dishes - Raw food and cold foods weaken the digestive system

TCM bonus: Start the day with warm rice congee or oatmeal with cinnamon and dates.

2. sleep as medicine

• 7-9 hours per night - Your Yin only regenerates during sleep
• To bed before 11 pm - the gallbladder season begins
• Light in the morning, darkness in the evening - Support your natural rhythm

TCM tip: A warm foot bath before sleep draws the Yang down and calms the mind.

3. targeted use of dietary fiber

• Soluble dietary fiber nourish the good intestinal bacteria
• they promote the formation of Butyrate - protects against „winter gut“ & cravings
• Best sources: Acacia fibers, psyllium husks, cooked pears, sweet potatoes

Products like BS Plus can provide gentle support here - not as a dietary supplement, but as food for your microbiome.
More info here 👉 www.meine-tcm.com/produkt/bs-ballaststoffe-plus

4. snacking - yes. But consciously.

• A small piece of high-quality, high-fiber chocolate is more satisfying than giving it up
• TCM view: Bitter taste (dark chocolate) supports the heart and calms the mind

XOCOLÁ with D-tagatose & 25 g fiber per 100 g is a clever option here - enjoyment without the sugar crash.
More info here 👉 www.meine-tcm.com/produkt/xocola

5. TCM extras for your center

Morning ritual:
- 1 cup of warm ginger water on an empty stomach
- Warms the center and dispels moisture

Acupressure:
— Stomach 36 (Zú Sān Lĭ)3 thumb widths below the kneecap
- Massage for 60 seconds daily, strengthens the spleen and stomach
👇 You can find a detailed explanation here:
www.meine-tcm.com/akupunkturpunkte/akupunkturpunkt-ma-36

Herbal tea for in between meals:
-fennel, caraway, aniseed - warm and move
-Drunk after a meal, it prevents flatulence

🍂 Conclusion: Your body doesn't want to make you „fat“ - it wants to make you safe

Your body is not an enemy.
It is an intelligent system that adapts to light, temperature and internal stresses.

What feels like weakness is in fact ancient biological wisdom:

→ Stock up on supplies.
→ Preserve energy.
→ Build up protection.

In TCM we say: „The wise man nourishes life before illness arises.“ Your body does exactly that - it prepares itself, protects you, keeps you warm.

What you need is not a fight - but a new understanding of your inner climate.
And then?
The cold time does not become a trap. But a source of strength.