Food and herbs
Nutrition and (kitchen) herbs also fall within the principles of yin and yang and the doctrine of the five elements. To start with, nutrition 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. For example, cucumber is naturally cooling, even at room temperature. Between the extremes of hot and cold, there is a wide variety of food, from hot to lightly warming, from moderate to strongly cooling.
The way food is prepared also determines whether a product has a yin or yang effect. Fried food becomes more yang, while lightly cooked 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 nutrition. Ginger and cinnamon are warming. Turmeric (yellow root) sets energy in motion. Mint and green tea cool.
The choice of the right food is season- and climate-dependent.
For instance, a hot and dry climate is distinctly yang. For a good balance in nutrition, people in these regions should consume a lot of yin foods. These are foods that naturally occur 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 consumed in moderation there. It is no coincidence that in winter (yin period) we enjoy yang foods like mashed potatoes and stewed meat. Yang foods warm and stimulate. They set things in motion and promote defense. Yin foods cool, moisturize, and strengthen.
Understanding the energy of different types of food contributes to a healthy diet. Yin and yang, as well as the five elements, also play a significant role in Chinese Herbal Medicine.
