According to TCM, foods are classified to cold, cool, neutral, warm, hot, most of the foods are neutral, but some foods, according to their energetic properties based on the principles of Yin and Yang, which are the two opposing but complementary forces in nature. Yin represents the cool and moist aspects of the body, while Yang represents the warm and dry aspects.
which are believed to affect the body’s internal balance and overall health. These properties are based on the food’s effects on the body’s temperature, metabolism, and energy flow.
While the classification of cool or cold food generally refers to its ability to decrease the body’s temperature. Neutral foods are those that have no significant effect on the body’s temperature. Most foods are neutral foods.
Warm and hot foods are believed to have warming effects on the body and are recommended for people who have cold or stagnant conditions, such as poor circulation, weak digestion, or sluggish metabolism. They are also recommended during or postpartum care.or for people who live in colder climates.
During the postpartum period, it’s important for new mothers to eat a balanced diet that supports their recovery and promotes milk production. Eating appropriate foods that the body needs can help alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and stress. Eating more warm and hot foods, avoiding cold and cooling foods is the principle.
Hot and warm foods can accelerate blood circulation, make the body feel warm, boost the spirit and improve the phenomenon of cold hands and feet.
Hot foods
Like lamb, chili, cinnamon, dried (Longan) which is also called dragon fruit, Dried Apricots
Warm foods
Like Cherry(if you are a breastfeeding mom, eat too much cherry may become clogged ducts, so has to be careful), peach, plum, papaya, sardine, beef, chicken, basil, onion, ginger, garlic, red dates, pine nuts, walnuts, peanuts, sesame.
It’s important to note that the classification of foods as “warm” or “cooling” is not solely based on their temperature or physical characteristics. Other factors, such as their flavor and how you handle the food, cooked or uncooked, these are also taken into account.
Examples
Vegetables, when cooking vegetables, adding hot and warming spices such as ginger, chili, onion, and garlic can help to balance the cooling properties of the vegetables. These spices are believed to have warming effects on the body and can help to improve digestion and circulation. However, the effects of these spices may not completely negate the cooling properties of the vegetables, especially if they are eaten raw. Cooking the vegetables can also help to reduce their cooling properties and make them easier to digest. Overall, incorporating warming spices into vegetable dishes can help to balance the cooling properties of the vegetables and promote overall health and digestion, according to TCM theory.
Pears, pears are considered a kind of cooling fruit. However, when it is cooked which can help to neutralize some of its cooling properties. or may reduce its cooling effect, making them become a neutral or slightly warming food.
Cooked pears can be particularly beneficial on the lungs and throat, As a result, pears are often used for their medicinal properties, particularly for their ability to moisten the lungs and relieve coughs. Or used to treat conditions such as dry cough, sore throat, and bronchitis.This is because cooking the pear can release more of its natural sugars, which can help to tonify the lungs and promote the production of bodily fluids.
When a person is sick, their body is believed to have an excess of yin, which can result in symptoms such as coldness, dampness, and sluggishness. Eating cold or cooling foods is believed to further increase the body’s yin, exacerbating these symptoms and prolonging the illness. Therefore, TCM recommends avoiding cold or cooling foods and instead consuming warm or neutral foods that can help to restore balance and support the body’s natural healing processes. That’s one of the reasons not to eat raw pears, because it may make you cough more.
It’s also worth mentioning that the classification of foods as “warm” or “cooling” may vary depending on the individual’s constitution and health condition. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of Yin and Yang is used to understand the balance and harmony within the body. Yin and Yang are two opposite but complementary aspects of the body, and when they are in balance, the body is healthy. In TCM, the body is divided into different organs and systems, each with their own Yin and Yang qualities.
If you want to read more about postpartum nutrition, you can read this article
Low milk production? 6 Kinds of Category Foods For Lactation Boosting
