YIN – YANG NUTRITION
The concept of nutrition in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is
also based on quality differentiation. According to TCM theories
there are Yang-featured warm-to-hot food, Yin-featured cool-to-cold
food and plain food (for Yin – Yang characteristics see The Yin
and Yang of Human Body on this website). The heat or coldness of
food, mentioned here is not related to there surface or inner
temperature of nutrients but is the matter of their effect on
human body, obtained by the end of their utilization. We know that
during chemical reaction some substances release energy while
others absorb it. Consequently the former substances would have
warming (i.e. have Yang effect) and the latter would have cooling
(i.e. have Yin effect) effect on human body.
The notion of polarity in relation to nutrition is also present in
Western diet. Contemporary dietology differentiate food into
acidic, which is mainly of animal origin, and alkali, which is
mainly represented by plants. Acidity and alkalinity of food
usually denotes the concentration of hydrogen ions, produced by
nutrients during their metabolism. The more hydrogen ions are
produced by nutrient, more acidic it would be. This conventional
division of nutrients looks similar to TCM concept of nutrition:
acidic food, due to its warming properties, resembles Yang,
whereas alkali food with its cooling properties behaves as Yin. So,
it is not accidental that we prefer meat (Yang) in winter (Yin),
trying to warm up ourselves and mainly utilize watery fruits and
vegetables (Yin) in summer (Yang), trying to cool down our body.
In both situations the only idea behind these food preferences ıs
to stay in balance with nature.
Below the reader can find lists of warm-to-hot, cool-to-cold and
plain food. There is no strict division of types of food in terms
of their warming/cooling properties. So we can meet meat both in
group of warming and cooling nutrients. In this case, for example,
such extremely exited bird like chicken with its fast-twitch
fibers is more Yang comparing to beef with its slow-twitch fibers,
which is more Yin in nature.
By determining your Yin or Yang-oriented type (see The Yin and
Yang of Human Body on this website) you can choose appropriate for
you food to get back to balance.
|
Food with Yin propertes |
Food w/Yang
properties |
Food w/ Plain
properties |
|
PEAR |
HOT PİPER |
PINEAPPLE |
|
BARLEY |
TROUT |
SUNFLOWER SEED |
|
BROCCOLİ |
PINEAPPLE |
ALMOND |
|
STRAWBERRY |
ANISE |
HONEY |
|
CANTALOUPE |
PUMPKİN |
WHITE SUGAR |
|
MILLET |
PEPPER |
PEA |
|
TOMATO |
WALNUT |
QUAIL MEAT |
|
APPLE |
PLUM |
QUAIL EGG |
|
GRAPEFRUIT |
CHIVE |
WHEAT |
|
SPINACH |
DEER MEAT |
BEEF |
|
OYSTER |
SILVER CARP |
COW MILK |
|
SQUASH |
TYRKEY MEAT |
JELLYFISH |
|
BUCKWHEAT |
COFFEE |
PORK |
|
WATERMELON |
BROWN SUGAR |
HAZELNUT |
|
CELERY |
CARDAMON |
GOOSE MEAT |
|
KIWI |
CLOVE |
SPRİNG CHICKEN |
|
CRYSTAL SUGAR |
APRICOT |
PİGEON MEAT |
|
GABBAGE STEM |
GOAT MILK |
CARROT |
|
LETTUCE |
CHESTNUT |
FİG |
|
BANANA |
CORİANDER |
SQUID |
|
PEPPERMINT |
MUTTON |
CAULİFLOWER |
|
LOTUS ROOT |
POMEGRANATE |
RED BEAN |
|
DUK MEAT |
POTATO |
CHERRY APPLE |
|
DUCK EGG |
FENNEL |
CABBAGE |
|
BEET |
GARLIK |
LEMON |
|
EGGPLANT |
GRASS CARP |
MUSHROOM |
|
ORANGE |
VINEGAR |
CORN |
|
CUCUMBER |
BLACK TEA |
LOTUS SEED |
|
PURSLANE |
ONION |
OOLONG TEA |
|
TURNIP |
WINE |
BEET |
|
RABBIT MEAT |
PEACH |
POTATO |
|
SALT |
CINNAMON |
RICE |
|
CRAB |
CHİCKEN |
SCALLION |
|
GREEN TEA |
CHERRY |
CARP |
|
|
GLUTINOUS RICE |
SOYBEAN |
|
|
GREEN MUSTARD |
CHINESE YAM |
|
|
YOGURT |
CHICKEN EGG |
|
|
GINGER |
GRAPE |
|
|
|
JASMINE TEA |
|
|
|
PEANUT |
|
|
|
GREEN (STRING) BEAN |
|
|
|
EEL |
|
|
|
OAT |
|
|
|
DAYLILY |
|
|
|
OLIVE |
