TCM Basics – Food

Food, the universal sustenance required by all humans, is viewed differently in the East. While Western culture tends to group food as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibre, and vitamins, TCM practitioners believe that the food we consume can be broadly grouped into three categories:
• Yin (Cooling) food
• Yang (Warming) food
• Neutral (neither cool nor warm) food

These categories describe how food affects the body and the sensations they generate. For example, eating warm food generates warmth in the body, whereas cooling food makes the body feel cold.

To determine whether a person should consume yin or yang food, one must first understand their body constitution. A person’s body constitution affects how they feel and behave, and how their body responds to causes of illness. Generally, a person who is more yin can counter with yang food, and vice versa, when feeling unwell.

Yin (Cooling) Food

As the name suggests, cooling food nourishes the yin and is suitable for those suffering from excessive heat and toxins. People with excessive heat may have a reddish complexion, dry mouth, are easily annoyed, and tend to suffer from insomnia.

Examples of yin (cooling) food:
Fruits: apple, banana, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemon, orange, pear, persimmon, strawberry, watermelon, mango
Vegetables: alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, bitter gourd, celery, cucumber, eggplant, kelp, green leafy vegetables, mushroom, spinach, swiss chard, lettuce, cauliflower
Grains, legumes & seeds: barley, buckwheat, millet, mung bean, soybean, tofu, wheat bran, whole wheat
Meat, seafood & dairy: clam, cheese, chicken egg, crab, rabbit, yoghurt
Condiments & beverages: chrysanthemum tea, green tea, peppermint tea, salt, sesame oil, soy sauce

Yang (Warming) Food

Warming food nourishes the yang and is suitable for people who tend to feel cold and are sensitive to low temperatures. These individuals may have cold limbs, feel tired easily, bloat after eating, and experience discomfort after consuming cold food or drinks.

Examples of yang (warming) food:
Fruits: apricot, cherry, chestnut, coconut meat, guava, raspberry
Vegetables: chives, leek, mustard greens, onion, pumpkin, squash
Grains, legumes & seeds: caraway seed, chestnut, glutinous rice, pine nut, walnut, pistachio
Meat, seafood & dairy: butter, chicken, deer, eel, ham, lamb, mussels, prawns, sea cucumber, lobster
Condiments & beverages: basil, black pepper, brown sugar, chilli, cinnamon, clove, coffee, cumin, fennel seed, garlic, ginger, rosemary, vinegar, wine

Neutral Food

Some foods do not have a yin or yang property and are suitable for both body constitutions.

Examples of neutral food:
Fruits: figs, goji berries, grape, olive, papaya, plum, lemon
Vegetables: black fungus, carrot, Chinese cabbage, corn, potato, sweet potato, taro, turnip, white fungus
Grains, legumes & seeds: almond, broad beans, kidney beans, peanut, rice bran, rye, sunflower seed, white rice, yellow soybean
Meat, seafood & dairy: abalone, beef, cow’s milk, duck, fish, oyster, pork, scallop
Condiments & beverages: peanut oil, honey, saffron, licorice, rock sugar, sugar