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Chinese Nutrition by Food Group
Compiled by Dr. David Chan
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Chinese nutrition is the tasty counterpart to Chinese herbology. The only significant difference between the two is that the nutrition tends to be more appetizing than the herbal tea formulas.
The basis for therapeutic qualities is exactly the same. On a related page, we take a look at a list of desired results of food remedies, followed by the foods that will provide these therapeutics.
Meats
Dairy
Grains
Fruit
Vegetables
Five element differentiation
Wood-chicken
Fire-lamb
Earth-cow
Metal-horse
Water-pig
- Beef:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & St Qi & Blood Tonic
- Lamb:
- warm, sweet, Sp, Ki, Qi Tonic, Warms Interior
- Ham:
- warm, salty, Sp Qi Tonic, Produces fluids, subdues Reb. Qi
- Pork:
- neutral, sweet & salty, Sp, St, Ki, Lubricates dryness
(Ni: sl. cold)
- Duck:
- neutral, sweet & salty, Lu, Ki, Facilitates water passage, reduces, swellings
- Chicken:
- warm, sweet, Sp, St, Qi Tonic, Warms Interior
- Chicken egg:
- neutral, sweet, Blood tonic, lubricates dryness
- Egg white:
- cool, sweet, detoxifies, lubricates Lu, cools hot
sensations, benefits throat
- Egg yolk:
- neutral, sweet, Ht & Ki, blood tonic, lubricates dryness
- Eggshell:
- checks gastric acid, arrests bleeding
- Milk:
- neutral, sweet, Ht, Lu, St, Lu & St tonic, produces fluids &
lubricates the intestines
- Butter:
- warm, sweet, Yang, Qi & Blood tonic, circulates blood
- Shrimp:
- warm, sweet, Kidney Yang tonic
- Eel:
- warm, sweet, Liv, Sp, Ki, Qi tonic, treats Bi syndrome,
strengthens bone
- Mussel:
- warm, salty, Liv & Ki Qi tonic, treats simple goiter
- Abalone:
- neutral, sweet & salty, detoxifies, sharpens vision
- Shark:
- neutral, sweet & salty, Sp, Tonifies Qi, Blood, & Yin
lubricates dryness, reduces swelling, tonifies 5 Zang
- Carp:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & St, facilitates water passage, promotes milk secretion, heals swelling
- Cuttlefish:
- neutral, salty, Liv & Ki, Blood tonic, sharpens vision
- Oyster:
- neutral, sweet & salty, Blood tonic
- Oyster shell:
- cool, salty, Liv & Ki, stops sweating, astringes Jing,
softens hardness
- Saltwater clam:
- cold, salty, St, promotes water passage,
eliminates phlegm, softens hardness
- Freshwater clam:
- cold, sweet & salty, Liv & Ki, detoxifies,
sharpens vision
- Crab:
- cold, salty, Liv & St, activates blood, cools heat sensations
facilitates recovery of dislocations
- Kelp:
- cold, salty, St, softens hardness, facilitates water passage
- Seaweed:
- cold, salty, softens hardness, eliminates phlegm,
promotes water passage
Five element differentiation
Wood-wheat
Fire-corn
Earth-grain
Metal-rice
Water-bean
- Glutinous rice:
- warm, sweet, Sp, St, Lu, Sp Qi tonic
- Malt:
- sl. warm, sweet, Sp & St, promotes digestion
- White rice:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Sp Qi tonic
- Rice bran:
- neutral, sweet & pungent, St, LI, descends energy
- Rye:
- neutral, bitter, dries dampness, diuretic
- Whole wheat:
- cool, sweet, Ht, Sp, Ki, Ht & Ki tonic
- Wheat bran:
- cool, sweet, St, cools St Fire,
- Buckwheat:
- cool, sweet, LI, St, Sp, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat
sedates Yang,
- Job's Tears:
- cool, sweet, Sp, Lu Ki, detoxifies, Sp & Lu Qi tonic,
diuretic
- Barley:
- cool, sweet & salty, Sp & St, regulates St, expands
intestines, promotes urination
- Millet:
- cool, sweet & salty, St, Sp, Ki, Qi & Blood tonic, clears
heat, lubricates dryness, Tonifies Yin, benefits digestion
detoxifies
- Soybean Oil:
- hot, pungent & sweet, lubricates intestines Sword bean: warm, sweet, Ki, St & LI: warms interior, tonifies
Ki, descends Reb Qi.
- String bean:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & Ki, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic
- Yellow soybean:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & LI, Qi tonic, lubricates
dryness, eliminates edema
- Black soybean:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & Ki, circulates Blood & fluids
treats Bi syndrome, detoxifies
- Corn:
- neutral, sweet, LI & St, Qi & Blood tonic, diuretic
- Hyacinth bean:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Qi tonic, eliminates
edema
- Broad bean:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Qi tonic, eliminates edema
- Peas:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Qi & Blood tonic, descends Reb
Qi, diuretic, induces bowel movements
- Kidney bean:
- neutral, sweet & bland, diuretic, heals swellings
- Adzuki bean:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Ht & SI, diuretic, heals
swellings, detoxifies
- Castor bean:
- neutral, sweet & pungent, Lu & LI, detoxifies &
heals swellings, induces bowel movements
- Mung bean:
- cool, sweet, Ht & St, detoxifies, clears heat, diuretic
- Soybean:
- cool, sweet, LI & Sp, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat,
lubricates dryness, eliminates edema
- Tofu:
- cool, sweet, Sp, St, LI, Qi tonic, produces fluids, lubricates
dryness, detoxifies
- Walnut:
- warm, sweet, Ki & Lu, Ki tonic, lubricates intestines,
astringes Jing
- Chestnut:
- warm sweet, Sp, St & Ki tonic, circulates Blood & stops
bleeding
- Peanut:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & Lu, Qi & Blood tonic, lubricates Lu, harmonizes stomach
- Peanut Oil:
- neutral, sweet, Qi & Blood tonic, lubricates intestines, pushes accumulations downward
- Almond:
- neutral, sweet, Lu, Qi & Blood tonic, lubricates Lu,
relieves cough, transforms phlegm, lowers Reb Qi
- Cottonseed:
- hot, pungent, Sp & Ki, Sp & Ki tonic, arrests
bleeding, stops Sp Qi sinking
- Sunflower seed:
- warm & neutral, sweet & bland, Liv & LI, stops
diarrhea, facilitates eruption of measles, subdue Liv
- Pinenut:
- warm, sweet, Lu, LI & Liv, lubricates Lu & LI, stops
cough, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, promotes fluids, moves
Stagnant Blood, expels cold & wind
- Dill seed:
- warm, pungent, Sp & Ki, Qi & Yang tonic, moves
Stagnant Blood, regulates Qi, expels cold
- Fennel seed:
- warm, pungent, St, UB & Ki, Qi & Yang tonic, moves
Stagnant Blood, regulates Qi, expels cold, harmonizes St
- Bitter apricot seed:
- warm, pungent & bitter, toxic, Lu & LI,
stops cough, relieves asthma, lubricates intestines
- Sweet apricot seed:
- warm, pungent & sweet, Lu, LI, Sp,
Sp Qi tonic, lubricates intestines, stops cough
- Sesame seed:
- sl. warm, sweet, Liv & Ki tonic, lubricates
intestines, "blackens" gray hair, general tonic
- Black sesame seed:
- neutral, sweet, Liv & Ki tonic
- Cherry seed:
- neutral, bitter & pungent, LI, promotes measle
eruption, detoxifies
- Lotus seed:
- neutral, sweet & harsh, Sp, Ht & Ki tonic, Qi &
Blood tonic, constricts the intestines
- Sesame oil:
- cool, sweet, St, detoxifies, lubricates dryness,
promotes bowel movements, produces muscles
Warm
- Guava:
- warm, sweet, (St & LI) obstructive & constrictive, stops
diarrhea & bleeding
- Chinese Date (red & black):
- warm, sweet, Sp & St, Qi & Blood
tonic, produces fluids, detoxifies,
- Longan (Long Yan/Dragon's Eyes):
- warm, sweet, Sp & Ht, Yang,
Qi & Blood tonic, removes Blood Stag., calms Shen
- Coconut milk & meat:
- warm, sweet, produce fluids, promote
urination, kills intestinal worms
- Peach:
- warm, sweet & sour, (Lu & LI), activates Blood, Qi, Blood
& Yang tonic, produces fluid, lubricates intestines, stops
cough, expels cold
- Raspberry:
- warm, sweet & sour, Liv & Ki, Liv & Ki tonic,
controls urination, astringes Jing
- Litchi:
- warm, sweet & sour, Sp & Liv, Yang, Qi & Blood tonic,
Regulates Qi & Blood, soothes Liv & calms Shen
- Cherry:
- warm, sweet & harsh: Qi, Yang, & Blood tonic, activates
Qi & Blood, expels Cold, Wind, & Damp
- Kumquat:
- warm, pungent, sweet & sour, (Lu & Sp), circulates
Qi, relieves cough, transforms Phlegm
- Dried Mandarin orange peel:
- warm, pungent & bitter, Sp & Lu,
- regulates Qi, dries dampness, transforms Phlegm
Hawthorn Fruit: - sl. warm, sweet & sour, Sp, St & Liv, harmonizes Middle Jiao, removes Qi, Blood & Food Stagnation
(esp. meat), expels tapeworms
- Papaya:
- neutral, sweet, (Sp, St, Lu & LI), promotes digestion, destroys intestinal worms, lubricates Lu, stops cough
- Figs:
- neutral, sweet, Sp & LI, St tonic, detoxifies
- Grape:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Lu, Sp & Ki, Qi & Blood tonic,
strengthens tendons & bones, promotes urination
- Crab apple:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Ht, Liv & Lu, quenches thirst,
stops diarrhea, astringes Jing
- Olive:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Lu & St, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Lu,
benefits throat, produces fluids, detoxifies
- Loquat:
- neutral, (sweet & sl. bitter),(Lu, St & Liv), lubricates
dryness, harmonizes St & soothes Liv, descends Reb. Qi,
stops cough
- Apricot:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Lu, lubricates Lu, produces
fluids
- Pineapple:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Qi & Blood tonic, promotes
urination & digestion, quenches thirst, stops diarrhea,
clears Summer Heat
- Plum:
- neutral, sweet & sour, Liv & Ki, produces fluids, promotes
digestion & urination, soothes the Liv
- Sour Plum:
- neutral, ex. sour, Liv, produces fluids, destroys
worms
- Lemon:
- cool, ex. sour, promotes fluids, harmonizes St, relieves
thirst
- Mango:
- cool, sweet & sour, (St & Lu), Qi & Blood tonic, benefits
St, relieves vomiting, quenches thirst, diuretic
- Mandarin Orange:
- cool, sweet & sour, (Lu), diuretic, lubricates
Lu, relieves cough, transforms Phlegm
- Apple:
- cool, sweet & sour, Lu & St, produces fluids, lubricates
Lu, promotes digestion, relieves intoxication
- Strawberry:
- cool, sweet & sour, Lu & Sp, lubricates Lu,
produces fluids, detoxifies alcohol
- Pear:
- cool, sweet & sl. sour, Lu & St, produces fluids, lubricates
dryness, transforms phlegm, clears Heat
- Persimmon:
- cold, sweet, Ht, SI, Lu (& Sp), Qi, Blood & Yin tonic,
quenches thirst, lubricates Lu, benefits Sp, clears Heat
- Watermelon:
- cold, sweet, Ht, St & UB, promotes urination,
lubricates intestines, quenches thirst, clears Summer
Heat, detoxifies
- Banana:
- cold, sweet, lubricates intestine, detoxifies
- Grapefruit:
- cold, sweet & sour, (St & Sp) harmonizes Middle
Jiao, circulates Qi, detoxifies alcohol.
- Star Fruit (Carambola):
- cold, sweet & sour, (St, Ki & UB) clears Heat, produces fluids, promotes urination(treats stone Lin), detoxifies
- Muskmelon:
- cold, sweet, Ht & St, clears Heat, quenches thirst,
promotes urination,
Warm
- Leek:
- warm, pungent, Liv & Lu, Qi & Yang tonic, regulates Qi, removes Blood Stagnation, expels Cold, sedates Yin, clears St Fire
- Scallions:
- warm, pungent, Lu & St, Assists Yang, tonifies & regulates
Qi, clears Heat, sedates Yang, dries Damp, diuretic, removes
Blood stagnation, expels Cold
- Mustard Greens:
- warm, pungent, Lu, Qi & Yang Tonic, circulates Qi &
Blood, expels cold, sedates Yin, expands Lu, transforms Phlegm
- Squash:
- warm sweet, Sp & St, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, circulates Blood,
heals inflammation, relieves pain
- Chinese cabbage:
- neutral, sweet, St & LI, promotes digestion & urination, tonifies Ki & Brain.
- Carrot:
- neutral, sweet, Lu & St, Sp Qi tonic, dries dampness & Phlegm
- Corn:
- neutral, sweet, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, regulates Middle Jiao
stimulates appetite, diuretic
- Black Fungus:
- neutral, sweet, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, cools Blood,
stops bleeding
- White Fungus:
- neutral, sweet, Lu, Yin tonic, produces fluids, lubricates Lu
- Pumpkin:
- neutral, sweet, (Lu & Sp), Qi & Blood tonic, dries Damp,
diaphoretic
- Potato:
- neutral, sweet, Sp, Sp Qi tonic, heals inflammation
- Sweet Potato:
- neutral, sweet, Lu, Sp & Ki, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic,
benefits Kidneys, astringes Jing
- Shiitake Mushroom:
- neutral, sweet, St, Qi & Blood tonic, benefits St
- Celery:
- neutral, sweet bitter, St & Liv, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat,
sedates Yang, dries Damp, calms Liver, expels Wind
- Taro:
- neutral, sweet & pungent, St & LI, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic,
circulates Qi & Blood, clears Heat, reduces swellings
- Turnip:
- neutral, sweet, pungent, bitter, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, clears Heat & Yang, dries Damp, diaphoretic,
lowers Reb. Qi, detoxifies
Yin tonic, clears Heat & Fire, dries Damp, clears Lu, lubricates Dryness, diaphoretic
- Alfalfa sprouts:
- cool, bitter, St & Sp, benefits St & Sp, dispels Damp- ness, lubricates intestines
- Asparagus:
- cool, sweet & bitter, Lu & Ki, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic, clears
Heat & Fire, dries Damp, lubricates Dryness, clears Lu, diaphoretic
- Lettuce (Iceberg):
- cool, bitter & sweet, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, dries Dampness & diuretic, aids lactation
- Cucumber:
- cool, sweet, Sp, St & LI, clears Heat Yang, & detoxifies,
promotes urination & quenches thirst
- Eggplant:
- cool, sweet, Sp, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang,
removes Blood Stagnation, relieves pain, heals swelling
- Mushroom (button):
- cool, sweet, Lu, LI, St & Sp, Qi & Blood tonic,
clears Heat & Yang, calms Shen, stimulates appetite, regulates Qi, transforms Phlegm
- Spinach:
- cool, sweet, LI & SI, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang,
hemostatic, lubricates Dryness
- Winter Melon:
- cool, sweet, Lu, LI, UB, & SI, detoxifies, diuretic,
transforms Phlegm
- Swiss Chard:
- cool, sweet, Su, LI, Sp & St, Qi Y Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, detoxifies, hemostatic, relieves coagulations
- Watercress:
- cool, sweet & pungent, Lu & St, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic,
circulates Qi & Blood, clears Heat & Yang, lubricates Lu, quenches thirst, diuretic
- Radish:
- cool, pungent & sweet, Lu & St, Qi, & Blood tonic, clears Heat
& detoxifies, transforms Phlegm-Heat, lowers Reb. Qi
- Bamboo shoot:
- cold, sweet, Tonifies Qi, Blood & Yin, clears Heat, detoxifies (often used to balance warm energy of meat)
- Kelp:
- cold, salty, St & Sp, Yin tonic, clears Heat, lubricates Dryness,
softens Hardness, promotes flow of Water
- Lotus Root:
- cold, sweet, Sp St & Ht, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic, cools Blood
(when raw), stimulates appetite, produces muscles, relieves
diarrhea (when cooked)
- Water Chestnut:
- cold, sweet, Lu & St, clears heat, Yin tonic, trans- forms Phlegm, diuretic
- Lettuce (Romaine):
- cold, bitter, LI & St, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat
& Yang, dries Dampness, diuretic
- Dried Ginger:
- hot, pungent, Lu, St & Sp, Yang & Qi tonic, circulates
Blood, warms Middle Jiao, opens the meridians
- Pepper (black & white):
- hot, pungent, St & LI, warms interior, descends Reb. Qi
- Pepper (red & green):
- hot, pungent, Ht & Sp, warms interior, harmonizes Middle Jiao, stimulates appetite
- Cinnamon Bark:
- hot, sweet & pungent, Sp, Ki, UB, diaphoretic,
strengthens St, warms surface & interior
- Fennel Seed:
- warm, pungent, Ki, UB, St, Warms Interior, circulates Qi
- Sweet Basil:
- warm, pungent, Lu, LI, Sp, St, Qi & Yang tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, harmonizes St
- Dillseed:
- warm, pungent, Sp & Ki, Qi & Yang tonic, circulates Qi & Blood
- Garlic:
- warm, pungent, Sp, St & Lu, Qi & Yang tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, warms Middle Jiao, destroys worms
- Clove:
- warm, pungent, St, Sp & Ki, Yang tonic, warms Interior
- Fresh Ginger:
- warm, pungent, Lu, St & Sp, diaphoretic, Yang & Qi tonic, circulates Blood, transforms Phlegm, stops vomiting
- Coriander:
- warm pungent, Lu & Sp, diaphoretic, harmonizes Middle
Jiao
- Nutmeg:
- warm pungent, Sp & LI, Qi & Yang tonic, warms Interior,
circulates Blood, warms Middle Jiao, lowers Reb. Qi
- Cinnamon Twig:
- warm, pungent & sweet, UB, Ht, Lu, diaphoretic,
warms Upper Jiao
- Star Anise:
- warm, pungent & sweet, Sp, Ki, Liv, Yang tonic, circulates
Qi, harmonizes St, stops vomiting
- Caraway Seed:
- warm, sl. pungent, Ki & St, circulates Qi, descends Reb Qi
- Spearmint:
- warm, pungent & sweet, (Lu & Sp), diaphoretic, circulates
Qi & Blood
- Ginseng:
- warm, sweet, & sl bitter, Sp, Lu (Ht), Qi tonic, produces
fluids, calms Shen
- Rosemary:
- warm, pungent, (Lu, St), diaphoretic, activates Blood,
strengthens St, calms Shen
- Saffron:
- neutral, sweet, Ht & Liv, circulates Qi & Blood, eliminates
Blood Stagnation
- Licorice:
- neutral, sweet, Sp, St & Lu, lubricates lungs, detoxifies,
moderates effects of other herbs
- Peppermint:
- cool, pungent, Lu & Liv, diaphoretic, regulates Qi & Blood
- Marjoram:
- cool, pungent, (Lu & Sp), diaphoretic, circulates Qi, drains dampness
- Brown sugar:
- warm, sweet, Liv, Sp & St, Qi tonic, circulates blood
- Vinegar:
- warm, sour & bitter, Liv & St, disperses coagulations,
detoxifies, arrest bleeding
- Wine:
- warm, sweet, bitter & pungent, Ht, Liv, Lu & St, promotes
blood circulation, expels cold, speeds up effects of herbs
- Coffee:
- warm, sweet & bitter, Ht, Heart tonic, stimulant, diuretic
- Molasses:
- warm, sweet, Lu & Sp, Qi tonic, lubricates Lu, stops cough
- White sugar:
- neutral, sweet, Lu & Sp, lubricates Lu, produces fluids,
Qi tonic
- Honey:
- neutral, sweet, Lu, Sp & LI, detoxifies, lubricates dryness,
relieves pain
- Tea:
- sl cold, bitter, sweet, Ht, Lu & St, quenches thirst, promotes
digestion & urination, awakens Shen
- Salt:
- cold, salty, St, Ki, SI & LI, detoxifies, clears Heat, lubricates
dryness, Yin tonic
References:
- The Tao of Nutrition, by Dr. Ni
- Chinese System of Food Cures, by Henry Lu