foods and energy

When considering the health benefits of the foods we eat in the West, we tend to think of them in terms of their nutritional value - the vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates - but in other parts of the world, mainly China, In India and the surrounding areas, the health benefits of food are further categorized by its energetic effects on the body and mind.

 

It is a simple but important distinction, however these two views are not necessarily in conflict with each other. In fact, scientific studies on the nutritional value of foods often confirm ancient views of their energetic effects on the body.

 

For example, in  Ayurveda , the ancient Indian system of medicine (one of the oldest on the planet dating back more than about 7,000 years), ghee, which is clarified butter, is believed to be calming and relaxing in its energetic effects. .

 

Western nutritional analysis of ghee reveals that it is one of the most concentrated beneficial sources of saturated fat known to man. Saturated fats have been shown to be an essential component of the myelin sheath that lines nerve endings.

 

If this myelin sheath is thin or of low quality (due to consumption of low-quality foods and refined fats, or having a deficiency of saturated fat in your diet), it causes over-stimulation of nerve endings, which has been shown to cause anxiety and agitation.

 

Consequently, when we have abundant sources of high-quality saturated fat like ghee or coconut oil in our diet, this myelin sheath is strengthened and we are calmer as a result.

 

The point of benefit and for understanding the energetics of food is the development of a more holistic perspective on our own health.

 

There is a danger of focusing solely on the nutritional properties of food when considering its effects on our health, and that has to do with ignoring the energy properties of food.

 

For example, in the West, fruits are considered extraordinarily healthy as long as they are fresh, organically grown, non-GMO, and produced without the use of chemicals and pesticides.

 

They have many great nutritional qualities such as being high in fiber, rich in water, minerals, and B vitamins, and they are also packed with antioxidants and many substances that have been shown to fight cancer, improve mood and energy, and in general support general health and well-being.

 

Sounds like a great idea to eat them all the time, right? Well, not so much when you understand the energetics of food.

 

Here's why:

In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, sweet, cold and raw foods such as cold fruits to create moisture in the body and contain a certain degree of mold, which is not a problem when consumed in moderation. However, eating too much fruit can become a problem.

Humidity is just what it sounds like:

Swampy, damp, cold, wet ... what you would experience on a foggy day right after a rain.

Eating excess fruit causes moisture to form in the gut, and moisture in the intestines eventually causes chronic diseases like candida, a fungal infection that thrives in damp, moldy environments and can be difficult to get rid of.

 

Candida causes a host of unpleasant symptoms, from rashes to brain fog, chronic fatigue, food allergies, lethargy and more.

 

As you can see, when you consider the nutritional value of a western food, the fruit looks amazing! With that logic, you cannot do wrong by eating fruit throughout the day. However, when we integrate the energy perspective into the fruit, it becomes apparent that you don't want to overdo it.

 

When we view food in terms of its energetic properties, we begin to understand a key principle creating a feeling of radiance and health, which is balance.

 

As long as a food is,

natural

without processing

no GMO

cool

grown without chemicals,

... is inherently healthy in terms of its energetic - as long as it is consumed in moderation and in balance relative to the energetics of the rest of the foods in your diet, as well as your personal constitution, which we'll get to shortly .

 

What is important when considering the energetics of food is to maintain a balance between the different types of food energies that may be present in your diet.

 

In  Traditional Chinese Medicine , for example, there are many different ways that we can categorize the energetics of a particular food, some of which are as follows ...

 

 

 

 

The Yin-Yang spectrum

 

Yin foods  are cold, moist, sweeter, contain more water and less protein.

 

Common yin foods are fruits, legumes, dairy products such as unsalted butter, ice cream, fresh cream, vegetables that grow above the ground and / or tend to be sweeter or more watery, lots of nuts and seeds, and blatantly produce. rich in sugar like honey and other sweeteners.

 

Processed foods tend to be very yin too, but in a detrimental, unbalanced way. In essence, the sweeter, watery, cooler, light, and airy a food is, the more yin it is.

 

Yin foods tend to be calming, expansive, and refreshing in their effects on the body.

 

 

 

Yang foods  are basically the opposite of yin foods.

 

Yang foods are warm, salty, dry, and dense, and include most meats, most whole grains, tubers, salted butter, hard and / or salty cheeses or dairy products, many spices, sauces, and broths and seaweed. marine.

 

Cooking or heating food makes it more yang in its effects. In essence, the more salty, dense, spicier and hot a food is, the more Yang it is.

 

Yang foods tend to be stimulating / energizing, and twitch warming in their effects on the body.