Power of Food for Optimal Health
Posted on 01/27/2011 04:35 pm by admin
Food as Medicine
How to increase your health by eating according to Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine emphasizes the use of certain diets and food substances in the treatment of different conditions and diseases. According to Chinese medicine theory, there is an energetic effort of food on the human body. The belief is that we break down not only the caloric content of the food but that we also absorb the qi or energy from food and thereby supply the body with nutrients to help strengthen our bodies or lead our bodies back to health from an already deteriorated state.
The Jing Concept
Fertility, energy, the ability to digest properly all are based on the sole concept of Jing or essence. Jing is considered a vital essence of the body and it is partly inherited from what our parents gave us in formation of our dna and inherited traits, as well as “acquired”, that which is a person can increase or at least maintain throughout the course of life, According to the laws of nature, when Jing runs out towards the end of life, we pass away. The whole idea of using Jing sparingly and continuously replenishes this “sacred essence” is emphasized by health practices such as Qi Gong or meditation as well as proper diet and life style. This clashes and stands diametrically opposite of our current modern western culture which really does not allow for rest and rejuvenation, although the social conscience is changing as people see that they are paying for it in terms of increased diseases, increased stress, and lack of energy, poor quality of sleep. These very things age us quicker and diminishes our vital Jing.
The Consequence of Depleted or Weak Jing
The consequence of depleted or weak Jing leads to weak, sickly children, relayed puberty, and partly to underdeveloped primary and secondary sexual characteristics. In women, we often find menstrual irregularities and eggs of lower quality, which can then be fertilized only with difficulty and often produce weak embryos. In the man, a lack of Jing causes low-quality sperm or reduced sperm count. Generally speaking, a lack of Jing has a complicating effect on reproduction. The general decline of Jing leads to poorer quality health as we get older most notably osteoporosis, reduced reserve energy as well as reduced mental faculties.
Foods To Reduce Jing Essence Loss
Foods can be seen as a way to help reduce the loss of Jing essence. Below are different examples of foods and their preparations that if applied consistently are helpful in restoring balance and vitality back into our lives. For each area I have adopted the following format. Explanation of a key idea of Chinese medicine with which to explain why certain foods are categorized as such as well as a listing of foods that can be helpful for your body.
Sources of Jing Essence
Typically, the Jing is said to be stored in the kidneys according to Chinese alchemy and from the Jing two energies are transformed into yin and yang energies, which are oversimplifies the complex array of enzymatic, hormonal, glandular secretion of the body. For example the breaking down of food by hydrochloric acid is considered the Yang part of digestive function, while the absorption of food in the small intestines are considered to be the yin part of digestive function as one is breaking down food, a yang action, with “Yang substances” ie hydrochloric acid, the other is receiving or absorbing the food a yin action, with “Yin substances i.e. digestive enzymes. The menstrual cycle is categorized by a Yin Yang cycle as well. In this initial phase of a woman’s cycle, follicles are developed in anticipation of a possible pregnancy. This corresponds to the “Yin phase of the menstrual cycle” and corresponds with the functions of estrogen. In stark contrast, is the hormone progesterone, which is released the second half of the cycle. It’s function’s are correspond to a “Yang Substance” and it is referred to as the “Yang phase of the menstrual cycle, because of it’s ability to support gestation and development of an embryo.
Click here for foods that nourish the Kidney Yin energy of your body
Click here for foods that nourish the Kidney Yang energy of your body