Diet and nutrition play an important role in everyday life. It’s no secret that proper nutrition is essential for a healthy and rich life. It’s an essential part of Traditional Chinese Medicine – although often overlooked. Let’s assess diet and nutrition according to TCM in this post.
Dietary Principles to Follow According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Here are some dietary principles to follow according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. They include:
Eat at Regular Hours and Never Skip Breakfast
Traditional Chinese Medicine dietary principles believe the stomach meridian is at its peak between 7 and 9 AM. As a result, this window is the best time for breakfast. It also argues that the last meal of the day must be light and consumed at least four hours before sleeping.
Eating Protein with Every Meal
The average Chinese diet includes protein in nearly every meal. However, they’re careful because they don’t consume excessive protein. Instead, they’ll use small quantities of animal protein or beans in each meal. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, animal proteins are building foods, meaning they’re hard to digest. On the flip side, beans are encouraged because they provide fiber and protein while absorbing dampness.
Drinking Warm Water or Herbal Tea Before Each Meal
Many Chinese dietitians recommend drinking warm water or herbal tea before each meal. They believe doing so causes the stomach muscles to relax, making it easier to digest meals.
Avoiding Sweet and Deep-Fried Foods
Sugar and deep-fried foods are primarily Western creations. Concentrated sweets like soda, sweetened yogurt, energy bars, and candy are known for causing dampness. As a result, Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends staying away from these foods. Instead, Chinese dietary therapy considers sugar highly destructive to the human body.
Eating According to the Seasons
Traditional Chinese Medicine also recommends eating according to the seasons. Different seasons require modifying cooking methods and making different food selections. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, people naturally prefer eating warm and heavier foods in the winter, like soups, stews, and beans. On the other hand, people prefer eating lighter food during the summer, like steamed vegetables.
Likewise, it’s also important to eat food that grows in your region during a specific season. For instance, olives typically grow during the summer and autumn, but they ripen during the winter. As a result, you’ll want to eat them during the winter season when they’re freshly ripened.
Traditional Chinese Medicine principles consider the modern diet an aberration because it’s unnatural. Technology and global trade have allowed people to eat foods from different countries during irregular seasons. However, the reality remains that eating local, in-season foods is still a common practice in many parts of the world. Research shows indigenous cultures produce more centenarians because of their dietary practices.
Eliminate Dairy
Look at a Chinese restaurant’s menu, and you’ll find cheese, butter, and milk are absent. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, dairy is only suitable for undernourished people. After all, it’s a building food. They believe dairy makes healthy and well-fed individuals stagnate.
The Western culture largely believes that dairy is essential for calcium. While that might be true, other calcium sources exist, and Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates for consuming these foods instead. Almonds, salmon, leafy greens, and broccoli are renowned for their calcium content. In addition, the Chinese believe that eating several vegetables can help address your calcium need without relying on dairy.
Detoxing Regularly
It’s no secret that the human body is exposed to numerous chemicals. For instance, research shows the United States consumes approximately 453.6 billion kilograms of chemical additives annually. Considering the US’s population is approximately 332 billion, each person consumes over one billion chemical additives yearly. These statistics are highly concerning because chemicals also linger in the air and surrounding environment.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that toxic accumulation can cause body issues, including fatigue, poor immunity, chronic infections, etc. As a result, many Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners recommend detoxing at least once a year.
Limit Cold Raw Food
You’ll find that most Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners discourage people from eating raw, cold food. They consider cold, raw foods culprits for causing dampness to form in the stomach. As a result, they believe these foods are difficult to process. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, you must ensure food’s warmth is similar to your body temperature. Heating food inside your body strains energetic resources, weakening your body’s energy system. Traditional Chinese Medicine argues that the digestive system needs to warm food to body temperature before extracting the food’s essence.
As a result, you’ll see Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners advise against eating cold, raw food. Instead, they’ll recommend eating lightly cooked vegetables and well-cooked grains. They also argue that while raw foods in salads contain more enzymes and nutrients, they aren’t as beneficial as cooked vegetables because you lose energy during the internal heating process as your body tries to digest the raw foods.
Learn More About Chinese Dietary Principles with WAHGEN
Wahgen Inc. is a healthcare consultant near San Antonio TX. Our goal is to help spread awareness and knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory in Texas and across the United States. We also provide health consultation, Wuming standing exercise, and ear acupoint services. We also offer essential oil services. Visit our website for more information. Alternatively, contact us today to get started.
