The healthier you are, the happier you are, and a healthy body always starts with a healthy diet. With the media bringing awareness to the health problems that result from a poor diet, we try our best to stay away from processed, greasy and fatty foods or foods with harmful chemicals or additives, opting instead for smoothies and salads because this is implicitly and explicitly recognized, as a universal definition of healthy eating that works for everyone. In reality, everybody is different, and we all have different nutritional needs based on our body constitution. That's why eating according to your constitution is just as important (if not more!) to a healthier you.
One of the important aspects of eating is the taste of food, and it can be divided into five tastes: sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and salty. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ingesting certain flavors can help the function of the five organs in your body to balance your health, treat various diseases, and also recover from some acute illnesses.
Features different flavors
Each flavor has a different function in the body and is associated with one of five important organs that help the organs function when malfunctions occur:
The sour taste (liver) calms the organism
Salty taste (kidney) moves stagnation
Spicy/pungent flavor (metallic) expels wind/cold
The sweet taste (spleen) tones the organism
Bitter taste (heart) clears heat
Therefore, in TCM, when we crave certain foods, especially during special situations involving stress, anxiety, insomnia, and women's menstrual cycles, it is more than just a craving: it is your body giving signs that there is an imbalance in your body, which needs to be addressed immediately.
Do you crave salt? Kidney (water energy)
Blockage of energy flow or lack of energy to the kidneys can result in salt cravings. In TCM, some of the kidney-related problems such as lower back/knee pain, premature graying/hair loss, menstrual problems, s e x UAL dysfunction, developmental problems, fatigue, etc. Some people believe that we crave foods, that are for our body necessary, but it's not always true. Craving salty foods and indulging in large amounts can actually worsen your symptoms, especially for those who are overweight or have high blood pressure.
What type of food is helpful?: Seafood such as shrimp, kelp and seaweed, along with healthy amounts of walnuts and berries, are great to include in your diet.
Craving Bitter? Heart (fire energy)
Although cravings for bitterness are not that common, cravings for them can actually be a connection to your heart health as well as signs of excess heat in the body. Excess heat is associated with anger, emotional instability, anxiety and even insomnia. Eating bitter foods can help relieve fevers, drain dampness, induce bowel movements, improve digestion, and fight infections to improve the overall energy flow in your body. However, people with weak, thin, dry and cold constitutions should be careful and limit their intake of bitter foods.
What type of food is helpful?: Bitter melons or other bitter leafy greens, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, chamomile, alfalfa, romaine lettuce, and rye all help with this condition.
Craving Sour? Liver (wood energy)
In TCM, our liver is strongly related to our emotions, and an imbalance can cause anger/stress/anxiety, leading to cravings for acidic foods. Liver imbalances can also cause cravings for fried, greasy, and fatty foods. Some symptoms of unbalanced liver energy can be irregular menstrual cycles, depression/anxiety, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, tense muscles, etc.
What type of food is helpful?: Tomatoes, oranges, kiwi, vinegar can open liver QI and help circulation.
Do you fancy something spicy? Lungs (Metal Energy)
In TCM, the lungs help defend against foreign pathogens/invaders/evil that can cause disease in the body. These pathogens can come in physical forms, such as bacteria and viruses, or in psychological forms, such as sadness and anxiety. Individuals who crave spicy foods may be at the onset of a cold or have negative thoughts and thoughts, which is why eating spicy and pungent foods during winter is especially helpful. Spicy food can help get rid of these pathogens and can also help our immune system fight disease.
What type of food is helpful?: Go for mint, rosemary, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, anise, pepper, cloves, fennel, spring onion, curry, chili and onion.
Craving something sweet? Spleen (Earth energy)
In TCM, the spleen is one of the most important organs because it helps filter the blood and plays a key role in the immune system. If you have a sweet tooth, it means that the spleen QI (energy) is weak or there is some imbalance that can lead to dampness. This can also cause lack of energy, digestive problems such as bloating of the stomach or abdomen, especially after eating, irregular bowel movements, low appetite, blocked sinuses, heavy and swollen limbs, poor sleep, brain fog, etc. Because children are in the stage of the development of their spleen, they have stronger tastes for sweets. Eating small amounts of healthy, sweet foods can help children grow and develop.
What type of food is helpful?: Cherries, carrots, figs, winter squash, sweet potatoes, nutmeg, yams, brown rice, dates, whole grains, cinnamon, etc. (If you have Spleen Qi deficiency or dampness, eat warm cooked food instead of cold raw food/salad).
Just as each organ has a function in our body systems, each flavor also functions in different ways. By having a healthy amount of each flavor, your body can maintain a balance that also helps prevent future illnesses. So the next time you start craving specific foods, try to see which organ is calling for your attention!
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