Nutrition: Food is Medicine

In China, food is thought of as medicine. You eat to be healthy, to stay healthy and to recover your health when you become sick. What you eat, how you prepare your food and how you eat are all very important.

In all Chinese philosophy the intention is to create balance, balance in your body’s energy and balance and harmony in your life with all things. The “food is medicine” philosophy is a core element of creating and maintaining that balance.

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is very important and how you eat is just as important in helping you to create and maintain that energy balance.

In our busy lives we often eat on the run, eat while we are working or watching tv, or skip meals because we are in such a hurry. These things do not promote balance. They create imbalance and in the Chinese philosophy of nutrition the key is creating and maintaining balance.

Here are some important aspects from Chinese “food is medicine” philosophy:

• Sit down to eat

• Eat a good breakfast

• Eat a good lunch at around noon if at all possible

• Eat a light supper at around 5 or 6pm if at all possible

• Chew your food well

• Focus on eating, get away from the work desk, turn off the television

• Eat organically and locally grown food whenever possible

• Eat seasonally

• Do not skip meals

• Limit greasy and deep-fried foods

• Limit sugar

• Eat 60 to70 percent vegetables, seeds, beans, sprouts, etc

• Eat no more than 30 to 40 percent fish or meat

• Try to eat at least 5 different colors of vegetables and fruits

• Vary your diet – don’t eat the same foods all the time

These are some key principles of Chinese nutrition, the “food is medicine” philosophy that can be very, very beneficial to helping you create and maintain energy balance and a healthier, happier life.