The 17th solar term of the traditional Chinese calendar is known as cold dew, or hanlu, and this year it fell on October 8. It means autumn is here and, especially, for the northeastern and northwestern areas of China, winter is just around the corner.

Hanlu brings on cold fronts, and cold fronts mean colds, coughs and wintertime ailments. Here are some tips from the Global Times on traditional ways to help you stay healthy throughout the cooler months ahead.

On your toes

There's a popular saying in China: hanlu jiao bu lu. This means that people should not leave their feet bare because cold weather is on the way. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy says that the feet are one of the parts of the body furthest from the heart, so the blood supply is relatively weak, and the layer of fat on the feet is relatively thinner. Both of these things contribute to the vulnerability of feet in cold weather. When feet get overexposed to cold air, immunity is weakened and people are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases.

So everyone is advised to put away sandals at this time and wear warm shoes. Traditional medicine practitioners recommend that people prone to winter ailments should take regular foot baths. The water should cover your ankles, and the recommended temperature of the water is about 40 C. Forty-minute soaks are good for most people but older people should limit their foot baths to 20 minutes.

Keep energetic

Although people don't sweat as much as they do in summer, many experience feelings of tiredness and weakness throughout autumn.

The priority for most people is ensuring they get enough sleep. Some TCM practitioners recommend people try sleeping an extra hour through this season.

Foods which contain more alkaline than acidic elements are also a good option to help alleviate fatigue, as they can counteract the acids produced by tired muscles. Good choices include tomatoes, eggplants, persimmons, potatoes, grapes and pears.

Some simple physical exercises can help maintain your vigor. Some suggest occasionally rubbing your ears with your hands, shaking your wrists and rubbing your face with your hands or dry towels. Exercise your legs by raising them as high as you can. Exercise your eyes by staring into the far distance and then massaging the acupuncture points around your eyes.

You are what you eat

TCM practitioners believe that what you eat influences your overall health and for the dry weather in autumn, sesame, walnut, lily bulb, lotus root and seeds, as well as white fungus are among the good choices for healthy recipes. Here is a recipe for rice porridge with dates, lotus seeds and gingko seeds. TCM adherents say this helps nourish the lungs and stomach.

Ingredients: 100 grams rice, 30 grams dry lily bulbs, 20 grams lotus seeds, 10 grams rock candy, 20 dates and 15 gingko seeds

Method:

* Put the lotus seeds into boiling water and boil for three minutes

* Add the lily bulbs, dates, gingko seeds and rice to the pot, and turn the heat down when the porridge begins to boil again

* Let it simmer and when the porridge thickens add the rock candy

* When the rock candy has melted the porridge is ready to eat