In TCM, each flavor is identified as having a taste but is also associated with a particltar thermal nature, and distinct effect and action on a specific body system. Let's understand more about the five flavors of food.
SWEET
Thermal Nature: Neutral to warming Action: Yang - Harmonizing, nourishing, supplementing, calming, nourishes body fluids
Meridian Network: Stomach and Spleen Excess consumption damages: Spleen Qi (for digestion purposes) impedes breakdown and transformation of food, which can cause poor digestion, accumulation of dampness and weight gain due to the body's inability to transform and metabolize effectively.
Sweetness can be the natural sweetness inherent in foods, not the added sweet found in most processed foods, from breads to ketchup to pasta sauces.
SOUR
Thermal Nature: Cooling Action: Yin - Moistening, movement in inward, supplements yin, can ease muscles contractions
Meridian Network: Liver and Gallbladder Excess consumption damages: Muscles, in particularm it causes soreness and muscle contractions. Avoid sour if when one is down with cold from exposure to cold wind - the sour flavor pulls the cold deeper into the body. Sour is a flavor that stimulates digestive juices, activating the fluids that bathe our tissues and our whole body.
SALTY
Thermal Nature: Cooling Action: Yin - Softens, loosens, moistens dryness and removes moisture as it move Qi downward to benefit the kidney function.
Meridian Network: Bladder and Kidney Excess consumption damages: Dries out fluids (through dehydration), can contribute to hypertension, hardens muscles and weakens bones
Salt is used so often as a condiment to enhance the flavors of food. many food in fact has a salty flavor itself. Salty moves the Qi downward to benefit the kidneys. Too much salt can aggravate obesity and high blood pressure. It can also exert the opposite effect of its main action (moistening and softening) and become too dry.
PUNGENT
Thermal Nature: Warming / Cooling Action: Yang - Uplifting, breaks up stagnation, invigorates circulation, encourages perspiration, is useful in the beginning stages of a cold
Meridian Network: Lung and Large intestine Excess consumption damages: Pungent/warming can overheat the body and cause agitation, sleep and mood disturbances, dryness in the skin and inhibited bowel movements.
BITTER
Thermal Nature: Cooling and Cold Action: Yin - detoxifies, clear heat, dries dampness and phlegm, supports draining through urination, can have calming effect through clearing heat and can dry the body fluids.
Meridian Network: Heart and small intestine Excess consumption damages: Bowel function and can cause diarrhea. Bitter foods include bitter melons, lettuce hearts, artichokes, white grapefruits, green/black tea.
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Let us look deeper into the fruits we eat in season.
Having too much fruits can spike blood sugar and increase internal body dampness, hindering the warming and yang action of the spleen, causing an accumulation of mucus or phlegm. Fruits facilitates hydration but it can be off too much of sweetness for the body.
To clear Heat, you can consider the below fruits:
Watermelon, grapefruits, banana, kiwifruits, lemons, blueberries, cranberries
To add Warmth, you can consider the below fruits:
Cherries, raspberries
To treat dryness, you can consider the below fruits:
Bananas, Apricots, Applies, mandarins, orange, peaches, plums, lemons, Kiwi,Figs. *The above information is for reference/sharing purposes only.
《This information should not be used as a substitute for the advice given to you by a Chinese medicine practitioner. If you are in doubt, please consult your practitioner in charge. " *以上资料供为参考。 《此信息不应替代中医师提供给您的建议。如果您有疑问，请咨询您的中医师。》
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