Food and herbs
Food and (kitchen) herbs also fall within the principles of yin and yang and the doctrine of the five elements. To start with, food can be warm or cold in temperature. Hot tea feels very different in your body than a cold drink. But food can also have a warming effect on the body. We call that yang food. Food with a cooling effect is called yin food. Cucumber, for example, is naturally cooling, even at room temperature. Between the extremes of hot and cold, there is a whole variety of food, from hot to slightly warming, from moderate to strongly cooling.
The way of preparation also determines whether a product has a yin or yang effect. Fried food is more yang, while briefly heated or raw food is more yin. So, the temperature and nature of the food plus the method of preparation together determine the effect on the body.
Herbs in food have a specific influence on the energy level of food. Ginger and cinnamon are warming. Turmeric (yellow root) sets energy in motion. Mint and green tea cool.
The choice of the right food is seasonal and climate-dependent.
For example, a hot and dry climate is distinctly yang. For a good nutritional balance, people in these regions should eat a lot of yin foods. These are foods that naturally occur a lot in these areas: pineapple, melon, orange, grapefruit, and eggplant. These fruits do not grow in cold and wet regions (yin climate) and should therefore be eaten in moderation there. It is no coincidence that we like to eat yang foods such as mashed potatoes and stewed meat in winter (yin period). Yang food warms and stimulates. It sets things in motion and promotes defense. Yin food cools, moisturizes, and strengthens.
Insight into the energy of different types of food contributes to a healthy diet. Yin and yang and the five elements also play an important role in Chinese Herbal Medicine.
