Chinese Food Therapy — the Real, Balanced Diet

Courtesy of: http://www.mysticfoodcourt.com/

            Chinese food therapy calls for the classification of food in relation to the yin/yang dichotomy. In this way, Chinese food therapy can be viewed as a type of healing that attempts to restore balance to the body’s flow of yin and yang energy through food.

            When we become ill, it is likely due to an imbalance in yin/yang. A person with excessive yin might experience a ‘cold pattern’ associated with the following symptoms:

·      Soft, fleshy muscles

·      Pale stools

·      Tendency to feel cold

·      Rarely Thirsty

·      Preference for warm food/drinks

·      Often tired, sleeps a lot

·      Health worse in cold weather

·      Quiet, withdrawn

            To counter these signs of yang deficiency, try eating warm lamb or beef dishes, dark poultry, cooked root vegetables, baked winter squash, onions, mustard greens, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and pepper. Avoid salads, raw vegetables, frozen desserts, pasta, and white flour. Aerobic exercises can also rid the body of ‘coldness’.  

            A person with a yin imbalance might experience ‘dampness’, which will include the following symptoms:

·      Mentally “foggy”

·      Nasal congestion; postnasal drip

·      Bloating

·      Overweight

·      Cloudy urine

·      Easily short of breath; lower body fatigues quickly

·      Retention of fluids

·      Little thirst/hunger

            Dampness can be associated with either cold or heat and is countered by lightly cooked greens like asparagus, kale, broccoli, and green beans. Fish and non-fried meats are balancing, as are rye, jasmine and basmati rice, and sprouted grains. Radishes, turnips, green tea, and bitter foods also help dry out the dampness. Sweets, dairy, and starchy foods are best avoided.

            A person with excessive yang might experience ‘heat’ and the following symptoms:

·      Constipation

·      Dark urine

·      Tendency to feel warm/talkative

·      Craves cold drinks; thirsty

·      Restless sleep; disturbing dreams

·      Headaches, nose bleeds, canker sores

·      High blood pressure in gums

            Heat is usually attributed to overwork, alcohol (and other toxins), and sugar. To restore balance, eat salads and raw vegetables. Melons, cucumbers, and lemon are very cooling, watercress and spinach too. Limit meat consumption and drink lots of water. Mint is a very cooling herb, whereas pepper, garlic, ginger, alcohol, and sugar should be avoided.

            A person with a yin deficiency might experience ‘dryness’ along with the associated symptoms:

·      Dry throat and eyes

·      Night sweats

·      Constipation

·      Thin body type

·      Frequent Urination

·      Easily stressed or frustrated

·      Rosy cheeks after exercise

            Dryness implies a deficiency of yin, or natural bodily fluids—like oils, saliva, digestive secretions, and hormones. Beneficial fats are essential to restore balance. Deep-sea fatty fish and grass-fed butter are good choices. Olive and coconut oil, free-range eggs, black and green beans, winter squash, sea vegetables, fermented soy, and shellfish are also great for balancing yin.

            To put this into a Western perspective, the yin/yang dichotomy of different foods certainly resembles the acidic and alkaline forming properties of food. The most alkaline forming foods include watermelons and lemons, which, as mentioned above, help cool the body and restore yin. The most acidic forming foods are things like sugar, coffee, and alcohol, which can ultimately lead to excessive yang energy. In any case, a healthy diet should always include seasonal foods, but should also be tailored to restore balance.