It is the nature of food, to be cold, neutral or hot. When the body is hot, it is good to have cool or cold food to clear away heat and eliminate toxins. Hot foods warm the interior and dispel cold to treat the symptoms linked with excess cold. Traditional Chinese medicine divides food into three categories-yin, yang and neutral. Yin foods are cool or cold in nature, whereas yang food is the opposite and warms the body. Neutral foods do not influence any hot or cold syndromes in the body. The ultimate goal of traditional Chinese medicine food therapy is to maintain a healthy balance based on the effect food is perceived to have on the body. By balancing our diet, we create harmony within the body, resulting in health and well-being.
Many of us already instinctively meet our body’s needs to balance food with the season. In winter it is common to consume more soup, stew and other hot foods than in the summer. Whereas in summer we go in search of more cold foods like fruits and juices.
Cold or cool foods
Strawberries, cucumber, pears, mango, spinach, tomatoes, bananas, clams, crab, grapefruit, lettuce, watercress, watermelon, apples are all cold foods.
Neutral foods
Beef, beets, carrots, celery, corn, eggs, potatoes, white sugar form the neutral food group.
Warm or hot foods
Cherries, chicken, dates, Leeks, sunflower seeds, wine, raspberries, shrimp, peaches, garlic, ginger, wine, ham, onion, pepper, mutton form the hot food group.