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The *Cui Yuxi Food Classic* states: During the 72 days of spring, sour and salty flavors are suitable; during the 72 days of summer, sweet and bitter flavors are suitable; during the 72 days of autumn, pungent and salty flavors are suitable; during the 72 days of winter, salty and sour flavors are suitable. During the 18 days at the end of each season (Long Summer), pungent, bitter, and sweet flavors are suitable.
These are flavors that generate each other (Xiang Sheng), capable of promoting growth, transformation, and maturation.

The *Qianjin Fang* states: During the 72 days of spring, reduce sour and increase sweet to nourish Spleen Qi (Pi Qi); during the 72 days of summer, reduce bitter and increase pungent to nourish Lung Qi (Fei Qi); during the 72 days of autumn, reduce pungent and increase sour to nourish Liver Qi (Gan Qi); during the 72 days of winter, reduce salty and increase bitter to nourish Heart Qi (Xin Qi). During the 18 days at the end of each season, reduce sweet and increase salty to nourish Kidney Qi (Shen Qi).

The *Cui Yuxi Food Classic* states: During the 72 days of spring, avoid pungent flavors, such as millet (Setaria italica), chicken, peach, and scallion; during the 72 days of summer, avoid salty flavors, such as soybean, pork, chestnut, and bean leaves; during the 72 days of autumn, avoid sour flavors, such as hemp seed, plum, and Chinese chives; during the 72 days of winter, avoid bitter flavors, such as wheat, mutton, apricot, and shallot; during the 18 days when Earth Qi is dominant at the end of each season, avoid sour and salty flavors, such as sesame, soybean, pork, dog meat, plum, chestnut, and bean leaves.
Dietary prohibitions should be observed with caution. Flavor conflicts (Xiang Ze) harm vital energy (Sheng Qi), thus preventing the establishment of Wang Xiang Qi (prosperous seasonal qi).

The *Shanfu Jing* states: In spring, do not consume liver; one must increase salty and bitter flavors, and prohibit consumption of spleen, lung, and pungent and sweet foods.
In summer, do not consume heart; one must increase sour and sweet flavors, may consume liver and spleen, and prohibit consumption of kidney, lung, and bitter and pungent foods.
In autumn, do not consume lung; one must increase sweet and salty flavors, may consume spleen and kidney, and prohibit consumption of liver, heart, and bitter and sour foods.
In winter, do not consume kidney; one must increase pungent and sour flavors, may consume heart and spleen, and prohibit consumption of heart, spleen, and sweet and bitter foods.
At the end of each season, do not consume spleen; one must increase bitter and pungent flavors, may consume heart and lung, and prohibit consumption of liver, kidney, and sour and salty foods.

The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: From the Summer Solstice to the Autumn Equinox, one should moderate the consumption of fatty, greasy, and cake-like foods. These items conflict with alcoholic beverages, melons, and fruits. Illness may not manifest immediately, but as autumn arrives and Yang declines while Yin grows, pathogenic factors arise, often leading to various sudden acute diseases and epidemics. This is due to excessive cooling intake during summer and lack of dietary regulation. Some people consider the day symptoms appear as the start of the disease, unaware that the cause accumulates gradually.

It also states: Zhang Heng (courtesy name Pingzi) of Nanyang said: At the Winter Solstice, Yang Qi returns inward, causing heat in the abdomen, making food digest easily after entering the stomach; at the Summer Solstice, Yin Qi hides inward, causing cold in the abdomen, making food difficult to digest after entering the stomach. One should avoid consuming foods contrary to the seasonal transitions. This is what is meant by "not eating according to the season damages nature and shortens life."