Secret to Eating Success!!
Okay :)I'm sure most people with Asian relatives or parents (especially those of Cantonese origin) will be familiar with this. But I just learnt this officially myself not so long ago and I found that it really helped my body internally and externally =)
This sort of Food philosophy dates back a long long time ago to the times of the old emperors and their huge ward of food philosophers.
The Chinese people divided foods into a few categories based on the yin and yang and how overindulging on one specific type of food can lead to certain bodily irregulations. Of course, they also found remedies to fix these sorts of things.
Chinese Food Therapy
The Classifications
The philosophy behind the yin and yang are mostly left unmentioned but Chinese people use it everyday in their daily cooking of meals. Foods that are classified as Yang foods are believed to increase the body's heat (such as raising the metabolism) and Yin foods are believed to do the opposite.
The key to good health is to consume a balance of these two types of foods. For example, overindulging on Yang food can cause outbreaks of acne and bad breath while overindulging on Yin food might cause anemia or sickly pale complexions.
The Cantonese people in particular pay a lot of attention to this and foods were classified accordingly into smaller categories. By attempting to balance the yin and the yang, they believed it was possible for it to improve the body's conditions.
Note: Rice (perhaps Wholemeal bread) is a NEUTRAL food. This is why Asians love it so much.
- Dry yang
- Wet yang
- Yin
- Cooling
- Boosting
- Vigorating
- Nourishing
- Blocking
- Grease
- Poison
Category 1: The dry yang type (燥火 lit. Dry Fire)
Examples of these food:
- Beef jerky (all dried meat)
- Lychee
- Chilli peppers
- Deep fried foods
Overindulgence can cause:
- Chapped or dry skin
- Chapped lips
- Nose bleeds
Cures: Consumption of yin or cooling foods
Category 2: The wet yang type (濕熱 lit. Wet heat)
Examples of these food:
- Mango
- Pineapples
- Cherries
- Mandarins
Overindulgence can cause:
- Urinary burnings
- Mouth sores (boils on tongue)
Cures: Consumption of Sugar Cane, Chrysanthemum or Imperata Arundinacea (tea)
Category 3: The yin type (寒涼 lit. Cold ying)
Examples of these food:
- Watermelon (or Cantelop, honeydew)
- Most vegetables (green leaved)
- Green tea
- Oranges
Overindulgence can cause:
- Sickly pale face (from low oxygen levels in your blood)
- Dizziness
- Weakness
Cures: Any of the Boosting or Dry Yang type foods
Category 4: The Blocking type (滯 lit. blocking)
Examples of these food:
- All foods high in fiber (nuts, beans)
Overindulgence can cause:
- Indigestion
- Stomach gas (wind)
Cures: Haw 山楂 or Malt 麥芽
Category 5: The Poison type (毒 lit. Poison)
Examples of these food:
- Duck
- Goose
- Bamboo shoot
- All shellfish
Overindulgence can cause:
- Pus or swelling in wound
- Acne outberak
- Hemmorrhoid
Cures: Abstinence during outbreak (refrain from eating these types of foods)
Category 6: The Grease type (油膩 lit. Greasy)
Examples of these food:
- All greasy foods (bacon, greasy dishes with a lot of greasy sauce etc)
Overindulgence can cause:
- Gastric irregularity
- Acne Outbreaks
Cures: Abstinence during outbreak (refrain from eating these types of foods)
Category 7: The Cooling type (清涼 lit. refreshing cool)
Examples of these food:
- Beer
- Lettuce
- Sugar cane
- American ginseng
Overindulgence can cause:
The Cooling type is a mild yin type that can be used to counteract the dry yang type. However, overindulging these foods will put it under the yin category and will have the same effects.
Cures: Not needed unless abused
Category 8: The Nourishing type (滋潤 lit. Nourishing)
Examples of these food:
- Apple
- Pear
- Fig
- Winter melon
- Longan
- Lotus seeds
Overindulgence can cause:
There are no negative effects to these foods. Eating it on a regular basis along with a balanced diet of other foods will moisturize and sooth your body.
Cures: Not required
Category 9: The Boosting type (補血益氣 lit. Boosting the blood and the Qi)
Examples of these food:
- Mutton
- Snake meat
- Beef and other red meats
- Red Dates
- Red wine
- Korean ginseng
Overindulgence can cause:
The Boosting type is a mild yang type that can be used to counteract the yin type. However, overindulging these foods will put it under the yang category and will have the same effects.
Cures: Not required unless abused
Category 10: The Vigorating type (行血活氣 lit. Stimulating the blood and Qi)
Examples of these food:
- Red wine
- Korean ginseng
Overindulgence can cause:
There is no known negative effects of consumption. In the case of Red Wine, abusing it will cause vomiting as it is an alcohol. A balanced but controlled consumption of these foods will help circulate the blood and the Qi
Cures: Not required
Please be aware that this applies to MOST people (YinYang people). There are those, however, who are Yin by nature and consuming only a small portion of ying foods can upset their bodies. The same applies to Yang people.
Yin people can be identified as being constantly unhealthy and in order to get well, they must consume Boosting or Vigorating type foods.
Note: Seriously guys, this works LOL. It's kinda fun :) Use this guide and start balancing your own body conditions now!!!
