Are there dietary guidelines in TCM?
Written by
David Nelson
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.Nutrition in Traditional Chinese Medicine is focused on *thermic properties of foods* that balance the energy of your body in various ways. Warming foods, such as ginger and cinnamon, help boost the body's Yang energy during the cold months. Cooling foods, such as cabbages, cucumbers, and mint, help nourish the body's Yin during the hot summer months, harmonizing the internal environment with the climate and naturally balancing internal equilibrium.
Thermal Alignment
- Warming foods boost Yang for cold conditions
- Cooling foods support Yin during heat
- Neutral foods maintain balance year-round
Seasonal Selection
- Spring greens support liver detoxification
- Summer fruits cool summer heat patterns
- Root vegetables ground energy in autumn
- Soups and stews warm during winter
Constitution Matching
- Yang-dominant bodies need cooling foods
- Yin-deficient types require warming soups
- Damp-sensitive constitutions avoid dairy
Eating in season encourages you to synchronize your eating with the seasons. Spring is a time of gentle greens that help promote the movement of liver Qi. Summer is a time of sweet, juicy fruits that help resolve the accumulation of summer heat. Autumn is a time of root vegetables that help balance the body's energy with the cooling weather. Winter is a time of warming and nourishing meat stock.
Your constitution determines your best food options. If you tend to feel cold, use more warming spices. If you tend to feel hot, consider incorporating cooling foods, such as melons or greens, into your diet. If you tend to feel damp, consider reducing your intake of dairy and sugar. Your practitioner diagnoses your constitution with pulse and tongue diagnosis.
Methods of food preparation are greatly beneficial in food therapy. Therapeutic soups, slow-cooked, draw out the deeper nourishment from bones and herbs. Steaming methods are a better option than boiling to maintain nutrients. Light stir-frying maintains the vegetable Qi. Foods that are fermented help raise probiotic value for your digestive benefits.
The practical exercise consists of simple measures. Warm ginger tea at meals stimulates digestion. All five tastes should be included in moderation for elemental balance. Chewing well aids spleen function. These thoughtful habits gradually enhance nutritional assimilation.
Read the full article: Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide
