John Myers
According to traditional Chinese medicine, eating healthy means putting together a balanced diet. Here we explain how the foods are divided and harmoniously combined in TCM nutrition.
Eating in balance: TCM nutrition
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees itself as a holistic teaching for a healthy life. The focus is on establishing the balance between the two opposing forces, yin, and yang. Only then can the life energy in the body – the Qi – flow freely and the organism remain healthy. Yin stands for cold and darkness, yang for warmth and light. Depending on whether the person belongs to the yin or yang type, he should feed himself. The foods are divided accordingly, so that people who get cold easily, for example, should prefer a yang-stressed diet as an anti-cold diet. For more information on the yin and yang principle, see our article on macrobiotics.
Classification of food according to the 5 elements
In addition, the foods in the TCM diet are assigned to 5 elements, each of which should be represented in a meal:
- Earth means sweet and includes rice, potatoes, carrots, eggs, beef, and butter, among others.
- Wood symbolizes sour and includes, for example, yogurt, wheat, tomatoes, vinegar, oranges, and chicken.
- Water represents the salty taste associated with duck, seaweed, legumes, salt, fish, and olives.
- Fire means bitter, represented by rye, rocket, beetroot, and others.
- Metal embodies pungency and is found in mustard, radishes, roe deer, alcohol, and onions, for example.
Each group of elements is subdivided into hot, warm, neutral, refreshing, and cold according to the effect of the food.
Recommendations for TCM nutrition
The TCM diet uses this modular system and is individually tailored to the respective person. This is intended to eliminate imbalances that are harmful to health. For example, if someone suffers from high blood pressure, they are a yang type and need more yin food. The concept also includes some general recommendations. Meals should be eaten three times a day in peace and prepared with fresh ingredients that are as regional as possible – cooked foods are preferable. The portions should be chosen in such a way that they satisfy hunger but do not overwhelm. That also helps with weight loss. And finally, TCM nutrition sees it as a big mistake to drink ice-cold beverages: it weakens the stomach and spleen.
The TCM concept contains many elements that coincide with a conscious diet. However, critics do not get enough of milk and dairy products, as these are poorly tolerated in Asia. This can lead to a calcium deficiency.
