Happy Friday! We talked earlier this week about basic lifestyle, nutritional and cooking tips for the Spring season. Spring is also the best time to cook with pungent and sweet flavored foods. Both these flavors are yangRefers to relatively more active processes, male element, en... in nature and energizing, qualities that reflect the active nature of spring. Cabbage, in the featured image above, have both a pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... and sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavor.
PungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... Flavor
The pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... flavor is a yang flavor, expansive, and dispersive. It tends to have a warming thermal nature and stimulates circulation of energy and blood, by moving this energy upwards and outwards to the periphery of the body. PungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... herbs can stimulate digestion and disperse mucusA slippery, sticky, thick secretion produced by, and coverin... caused by mucusA slippery, sticky, thick secretion produced by, and coverin... forming foods like dairy products and meat. It protects against mucusA slippery, sticky, thick secretion produced by, and coverin... forming conditions like the common cold. The pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... flavor also lightens the effects of grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, which have a tendency to build mucusA slippery, sticky, thick secretion produced by, and coverin... in the body.
In general, the pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... flavor has these effects on the organs:
1) Enters and clears the lungs of mucusA slippery, sticky, thick secretion produced by, and coverin... conditions.
2) Improves digestion and rids gas from the intestines.
3) Moistens the kidneys, which affect fluids throughout your body (eg ginger increases saliva and sweat in the body).
4) Stimulates blood circulation and strengthens the heart.
5) Clears obstruction and improves a sluggish liver function.
PungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... flavored foods benefit those who are sluggish, dull, lethargic, or overweight. Those who are overweight from overeating should choose coolingThe property of clearing toxins and reducing internal heat. pungents. Those with cold signs will benefit from warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... pungents. WarmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... pungents should be used with caution if you have heat signsMajor Symptoms: aversion to heat, attracted to cold, bright .... This flavor also helps those who are thin (with dry condition – more on dryness later) or those who tend to be nervous and restless (wind condition – review the properties of wind here). The seed pungents relax the nervous system and improve digestion. These include fennel, dill, caraway, anise, coriander, and cumin. PungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... roots are stimulants but also help stabilize and increase circulation. These include ginger, cooked onion, and horseradish.
Contraindications of pungents: some pungents will actually worsen those who are “dry” or “windy” (above). Sage, raw onion, and all hot peppers (especially cayenne), worsen these conditions. In general, those with deficiency in qiPronounced chee, is one of the four vital substances that fo... or stagnant qiPronounced chee, is one of the four vital substances that fo... (seen with liver problems) should avoid these foods.
Examples of different pungents:
WarmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... pungents : spearmint, rosemary, scallion, garlic and all onion family members, cinnamon bark and branch, cloves, fresh and dried ginger root, black pepper, all hot peppers, cayenne, fennel, anise, dill, mustard greens, horseradish, basil, bay leaf, nd nutmeg.
CoolingThe property of clearing toxins and reducing internal heat. pungents: peppermint, marjoram, elder flowers, white pepper, and radish and its leaves.
DiaphoreticA substance that induces perspiration and increases eliminat... pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... herbs that induce sweating for the common cold: ginger, mint, cayenne, elderflower, scallions, garlic, and chamomile.
Neutral pungents: taro, turnip, and kohlrabi
(Note: For those with cold signs or coldness, the best warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... herbs to use are dried ginger and cinnamon. They are deeply warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... for a relatively long period of time and gentle on the system. This is opposed to cayenne and other hot peppers, which are also warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe..., but so extreme that they quickly change to a coolingThe property of clearing toxins and reducing internal heat. effect. Also, for the full effect of pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... flavored foods, it’s best to eat them raw or pickled as simmering and steaming can diminish the pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan... properties. Leafy herbs such as mints should be steeped, and barks and roots like ginger and cinnamon should be simmered.)
SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... Flavored Foods
SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavored foods like grains, legumes, seeds, and sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... starchy vegetables like young beets and carrots are also best eaten during the spring. The sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavor, which is also yangRefers to relatively more active processes, male element, en... in nature, increases energy, especially in combination with warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... foods. SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... foods also build the yin of the body (building and nourishing fluids in the body), and strengthen weakness and deficiency symptomsMajor symptoms: Yin symptoms - person is frail, weak, withdr....
SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... foods, in the form of complex carbohydrates, are usually the foundation of most traditional diets. They energize but also relax the body, nerves, and brain. Complex carbs, such as grains, vegetables, and legumes, that are more warmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... can also treat cold signs and deficiency symptomsMajor symptoms: Yin symptoms - person is frail, weak, withdr....
SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavored foods have these effects on our organs:
1) Enters and strengthens the spleen-pancreas, or digestive system.
2) Appropriate for the liver as it soothes aggressive liver emotions such as anger and impatience. SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... foods have been traditionally used to calm acute liver attacks.
3) SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... foods also reverse dry conditions of the lungs through a lubricating action on the lungs and calms an overactive heart and mind.
Examples of SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... Flavored Foods
WarmingA substance that increases the body’s temperature by dispe... sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... foods help to acclimate to springtime. These include: spearmint (also pungentSpicy, one of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yan...), sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... rice, sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... potato, mochi, rice syrup, molasses, sunflower seeds, pinenuts, walnuts, and cherries.
Neutral sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... foods: cabbage, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, figs, yams, and peas.
SweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavored foods benefit those who are dry, cold, nervous, thin, and weak. The sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavor will help increase their energy and strength. They are contraindicated in those who are sluggish, overweight, obese, or those who tend to have increased mucusA slippery, sticky, thick secretion produced by, and coverin... in their systems. Eating sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavored foods will exacerbate these conditions. Also, in Chinese medicineTraditional Asian medicine based upon Yin-Yang Theory, Five ..., eating too much sweetOne of the five tastes in Chinese medicine; it is yang (warm... flavored foods can damage the kidneys and spleen/pancreas (digestive system), weaken our bones and may cause hair loss (from the head). As I have always emphasized, balance and moderation is key!
Have a great weekend and happy eating!
In health and wellness,
Dr Elain
References:
Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford