Finding Balance With the ‘Five Flavors’

How your taste buds can guide you to better health, according to Chinese medicine

According to Chinese medicine, the flavor of a food or herb doesn't exist merely for our pleasure (or disgust): It can also foretell what the food will do inside the body. Tom Wang/Shutterstock

Think of a well-balanced meal and you'll probably imagine things like vegetables, protein, and sensible portions. But there is another vital variable: taste.

We naturally want food that tastes good, but learning to choose the right flavor, or combination of flavors, can also improve our health.