Traditional Chinese Medicine and The importance of Yin/Yang in the diet

[technosmith]

Hey guys,

Do any of you feel there is any importance in balancing Yin/Yang in the diet?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine raw foods can dampen internal chi energy, and only certain types of individuals benefit from a raw diet.

I guess most on this site would say this is absolute nonsense based on their experiences.

Any interesting thoughts on this one?
Could geographical location actually have an impact?
Or is everyone completely different, and the only way to know is to experiment yourself?

Is there a way around it (got me thinking after reading the posts about people warming up their meat in various ways but not cooking it)

and Goodsamaritan, what would your friend Vander (the energy healer) have to say about this one?

Phil

[cherimoya_kid]

I agree that light cooking of food, like steaming, might make it more digestible than totally raw.  However, you lost the benefits of the beneficial bacteria when you cook food any more than light steaming. Also, the water-soluble vitamins, B-complex and C, are very heat-sensitive.

Eating salty foods like seaweeds can strengthen digestion, as can eating digestive aids like ginger. 

Fermenting food is an excellent way to make it more digestible, without losing the beneficial bacteria. 

[eveheart]

TCM developed a system of defining balance by observing balance. That's not to say that balance only exists in that system.

From what I've observed here (by reading) and experienced myself, I think the healing benefits and sense of well-being found in RPD probably come from a balance that we find in raw foods.

[TylerDurden]

People really need to post such topics in the hot topics section. The general discussions forum is not a dump for such topics.


As for chinese medicine, i believe it is discredited by the fact that it has led to countless wildlife being killed over absurd notions re health.

[bluesandteals]

Helpful video addressing raw foods being warming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-yiUG0-Jfk

[cherimoya_kid]

People really need to post such topics in the hot topics section. The general discussions forum is not a dump for such topics.


As for chinese medicine, i believe it is discredited by the fact that it has led to countless wildlife being killed over absurd notions re health.

Chinese medicine is about as discredited as quantum mechanics---meaning, it isn't the truth, but it's true in certain circumstances. 

I find the most ridiculous things about it are the encouragement to eat grains and overcook food.

It does make some useful points about certain herbs having certain healing properties, and certain animal products also having healing properties. It's biased toward cooking and grains, though.  Extremely biased.

Acupuncture and acupressure are very useful aspects of Chinese medicine, and are pretty much totally separate from food theory.