According to Chinese medicine, one principle of eating correctly is to eat a balance of yang and yin foods. Yin foods (L) beef and soybeans and yang foods (R) cabbage and chestnuts are shown. (The Epoch Times)
The human body has yin and yang. There are also yin and yang foods, and food has the five elements of acid, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty. Food affects the body’s yin and yang and its five elements.
Food should meet the body’s need for yin and yang and the five elements. The dietary method of keeping fit stresses the following four points: appropriate diet, equal diet, reconciling the yin and yang, and reconciling the five flavors.
Appropriate Diet
Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) said, “Drink and eat appropriately.” That means the amount of food should be appropriate. Not eating too much, which leads to gastrointestinal damage; not eating too little, which leads to insufficient energy supply.
Many modern people eat too much, and they exercise to little, which causes obesity. It can cause metabolic syndrome (abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood fats).
Equal Diet
Man should have diet with various types of food. Use grains as the main food, with meat, fruits, and vegetables as supplements, and eat food of five flavors to help the body to produce essence and qi. Man should eat every type of food but should not eat too much; otherwise, it will harm the body.
Reconciling Yin and Yang
The nature of the human body is divided into yin and yang, cold and heat, and the nature of food is also divided into yin and yang, cold and heat. People who have yang (heat) nature should eat more yin (cold) food to reconcile yin and yang. If they eat too much yang (hot) food, it is like adding fuel to the fire, which leads to hot disease symptoms, such as being thirsty, having mouth ulcers and boils.
On the other hand, people of yin (cold) nature should eat more yang (hot) food to reconcile yin and yang. If they eat too much yin (cold) food, it is like adding frost to snow, which leads to cold symptoms such as diarrhea and menstrual disorders. We should not eat food that is too hot or too cold.
Reconciling the Five Flavors
There are five flavors: sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty. The five flavors should be balanced. Paying attention to reconciling the five flavors, we can maintain the normal function of bones, blood, and organs.
Conclusion
Food is needed because it supplies the necessary material and energy. Not eating properly can cause disease. Modern medicine emphasizes a moderate diet.
Based on the five elements of yin and yang, Chinese medicine has two more points: The diet should be made to reconcile yin and yang and the five flavors. This is valuable information for modern people. It will enable us not only to enjoy food but also to be healthy.
Dr. Wang is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor.
