Usually, people should have breakfast about 20-30 minutes after waking up around 7 o'clock in the morning. This is because it is the most active time for the stomach meridian and the easiest time for food digestion and absorption throughout the day. Therefore, breakfast should be eaten between 7-8 am to maximize nutrient absorption.
It is also important to pay attention to the timing of breakfast. According to the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, one should not eat breakfast whenever they feel like it after waking up.
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon states: "The stomach is the sea of the five zang organs and the six fu organs."
The biggest characteristic of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is its holistic view. After the body detoxification process, it is time to replenish nutrients. The time between 7-9 am, known as chen hour, is the prime time for the stomach meridian and when people should have breakfast. This is the easiest time for food digestion and absorption throughout the day. It is essential to remember to provide the body with enough nutrients to start the day's work and study.
Therefore, it is necessary to have breakfast in the morning. If breakfast is skipped, the stomach will be empty and the body's nutrition will not keep up, resulting in dizziness and weakness. The stomach is like a "granary" that receives and processes food. Therefore, if there is discomfort in the stomach, it will affect overall health. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon emphasizes that the pulse of the stomach should never be cut off at any time, as when the pulse of the stomach is cut off, it indicates that the body is approaching its limit. This principle is simple: when the pulse of the stomach is cut off, the ability to eat is lost, and a person will face death.
From the course of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, we can determine that diseases related to the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming mainly manifest in the head, face, nose, teeth, throat, brain, intestines, and stomach, as well as fever. For example, if there is poor complexion and lack of skin elasticity, it is mainly due to the blood supply in the face relying on the stomach meridian. Insufficient blood supply to the stomach meridian can cause poor complexion and loose skin. No wonder people say that the stomach is the "second face" of a person. Another example is dysmenorrhea. If there is breast tenderness or leg pain before and after menstruation, it is caused by an imbalance in the stomach meridian. In short, any disease caused by the stomach meridian can be improved through the stomach meridian.
Speaking of the stomach meridian, there is an important acupoint called Zusanli (Stomach 36). In traditional Chinese medicine, Zusanli is considered the most important acupoint for nourishing the spirit. This is because it is located on the stomach meridian, which regulates the digestive system. Only when people eat well can their bodies function normally and be less prone to illness.
Zusanli is located four horizontal fingers below the outer knee, along the edge of the tibia. For example, on the left leg, use the second joint of the index finger of the right hand to move along the tibia until there is a protruding oblique bone blocking it, and the fingertip is at the acupoint. Stimulating Zusanli can strengthen the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, increase the activity of various digestive enzymes, improve appetite, aid digestion, improve heart function, and regulate blood sugar. Therefore, there is a saying in folk medicine that "stimulating Zusanli is better than eating a good chicken".
According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, there are corresponding acupoints on the feet for each of the five zang organs and six fu organs. The second and third toes are related to the intestines and stomach. Regularly moving these toes can promote stomach health. The specific method is to sit with both feet flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart, with focused concentration, and perform the action of gripping the ground with the toes for 60 times continuously.
