Yin - Yang Foods
“Balance of Foods for Healthy Living”
How does the concept of yin and yang relate to food? Belief in the importance of the principles of yin and yang in the diet explains that; certain foods are thought to have yin or cooling properties, while others have warmed yang properties. The challenge is to consume a diet that contains a healthy balance between the two. When treating illnesses in the oriental countries; physicians frequently advise dietary changes; to restore a healthy balance between the yin and yang in the body. For example, let’s say you’re suffering from heartburn, caused by consuming too much spicy (Yang) food. Instead of antacids, you could be likely to take home a prescription for herbal teas to restore the yin forces. Similarly, cough or flu are more likely to be treated with dietary changes than along with herbal formulations.
No foodstuff is purely yin or yang – most of the time one of the characteristics tends to dominate. That is why there is no complete agreement amongst experts as to which foods exhibit yin or yang qualities. Interestingly, cooking methods too have more of a yin or yang effect on the end products, as the list below indicates.
Yang Foods
Cooking Methods:
Yin Qualities: Boiling, Poaching, Steaming
Yang Qualities: Deep-frying, Roasting, Stir-frying
Yin Foods
Types of Foods:
Yin Foods: Bean Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Raw Salads, Cucumber, Curds, Ice-creams, Tofu, Fruits, Desserts, Jellies, Water, Juices, Buttermilk, etc.
Yang Foods: Stir fries, Spiced Broths, Soups, Chicken, Eggs, Ginger, Spices, Wheat Breads, Mushrooms, Sesame Oil, Wine, etc.