Determine the nature of your food

by Physician Na Yi Ting

Many patients have asked me: "Can I eat green bean soup? Can I eat Watermelon?"

Many have realized that when they eat certain food they may feel uncomfortable, such as sore throat, constipation, gastric discomfort or even coldness in their limbs. Why is this so? Expand the section to read more.

In TCM, all things are categorized into Yin and Yang, and we emphasize on the balance of these two energies in our body.

We classify the food we eat into three fundamental natures: Warming, Neutral and Cooling. Food of warming nature belongs to Yang, and food of cooling nature belong to Yin. Depending on an individual's body constitution, he or she may be suited to consume more or less of a certain food.

For example, when a person with a heaty body constitution consumes too much durian, which is of a heaty nature, this can contribute to an excessive build up of Yang energy. This can cause symptoms such as sore throat and constipation to occur. When a person with a heaty constitution consumes some watermelon which is cooling in nature, this can then help to counteract the excess Yang energy and balance the Yin and Yang energies in the body.

It is also important to ensure we eat these food of different natures in moderation to ensure a balance in our body. Too much of a certain food is never good! The key is moderation!