CHINESE NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

Western nutrition models are generally based on chemistry, which unfortunately often leads to a fragmented,non-specific and unsucessful diet. Although each food can be understood as a proportion of fats, proteins and sugars, how a specific food item affects us is much more complicated than merely those proportions. Although a proportional diet, such as the food pyramid, can help people loose weight, proportional diets often totally neglect other aspects of nutrition. These aspects include the nature and quality of food rather than merely its fat, sugar and protein profile. By nature and quality we might mean food production, for instance, how the food was grown, how many pesticides and chemicals were used in its cultivation and how long it sat on the shelf. Or, within the framework of Chinese nutritional therapy, we might consider how foods specifically affect the body. For instance, just because tofu is thought to be a grain, there are people who should avoid it.

To understand how this works, let's look at tomatoes, cucumbers and red peppers. These three foods have similar fat, sugar and protein profiles, but very different effects on the body. If we were to judge each of these foods using the food pyramid, there would be little reason to eat one rather than another, aside from taste, of course. In Chinese nutritional therapy we evaluate individual foods by the way they react within the body. We are interested in whether they are warming or cooling in nature, whether they have moistening, drying, astringing, purgative, antiobiotic, dispersing or tonifying properties for example. We also look at where their energy is directed in the body and how they are used therapeutically in various organ systems. So, in the case of tomatoes, cucumbers and red peppers there are several fundamental differences in these foods that might make one a better choice than another. In Chinese nutritional therapy a red pepper might be a good idea for a person who tends to have cold extremities whereas a person who has hot flashes and night sweats would be better off avoiding it. A cucumber might be a good choice for someone with edema since it has a diuretic effect, but not so good for someone with diarrhea.

We are led to believe that the only important thing about a particular food is its relative quantity of fat, protein and sugar. In Chinese nutrtional therapy we try to observe the way individual foods affect our bodies, after we eat them. If we learn to tune in to the subtle effects foods have on our metabolism, emotions and organ systems, our bodies will teach us which foods to avoid and which foods are nourishing for our systems. As we develop this sensitivity we can reflect on the millenia of observations the Chinese system provides to us. At Newport Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine we recognize that nutrition is at least as potent as other forms of medicine. We are here to help you discover what foods are best for you!