Western/Eastern Nutrition
The Chinese nutritional system is quite different from the traditional Western system. In the West, we have the primary food groups, but in the Chinese nutritional system, we must include and balance five different tastes to maintain a healthy diet. These tastes are spicy, sour, bitter, sweet, and salty, which must be included and balanced to maintain optimal health. These tastes are thought to have distinct therapeutic properties and can influence the body’s energy and organ function.
Five Therapeutic Tastes in Chinese Nutrition
Each taste in Traditional Chinese Nutrition is linked to specific organs and health effects. Balancing these flavors supports overall wellness:
- Spicy (Pungent) – Stimulates circulation and disperses stagnation. Often associated with the lungs and large intestine.
- Sour – Astringes and preserves fluids. Linked to the liver and gallbladder.
- Bitter – Drains heat and dries dampness. Supports the heart and small intestine.
- Sweet – Strengthens and harmonizes. Nourishes the spleen and stomach.
- Salty – Softens hardness and purges. Affects the kidneys and bladder.
Understanding how these tastes affect the body can help create a diet that supports energetic and organ balance.
There is a separate ideal diet for each person. It is said that each person is hot or cold and dry or damp. The Chinese diet is also concerned with the balance of yin and yang energies in the body, and it is believed that each food has a predominant quality of either. For example, a person with a yin deficiency needs to eat more foods with yin energy than other people.
For those interested in enhancing their health through Chinese medicine treatments in Encino, this approach can complement and support your nutritional well-being.
Alternative Health Care Concepts recognizes that no two people are the same when it comes to the nutrients needed to stay at the peak of health. To ensure that every patient receives all of the nutritional benefits the body requires, we manage an individual’s dietary needs with a combination of Eastern and Western strategies, combining the best of both worlds with vitamins and herbs for a completely well-rounded dietary plan that addresses all of your unique nutritional needs.
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What is nutritional medicine and how is it different from a regular diet plan?
Nutritional medicine looks at food as a way to support health, based on what each person’s body may be asking for. We go deeper than calorie counting and aim to support the body’s systems.
Can nutritional changes really help with things like low energy or frequent illness?
We’ve seen people improve sleep, energy, digestion, and immune response by making focused changes. It depends on the body’s current state and how it’s absorbing or using nutrients.
Will I have to give up everything I usually eat?
Not necessarily. We try to work with the foods someone likes while adjusting portions, timing, or combinations to match their needs. We aim to make the plan practical.
How do I know if I’m getting the right nutrients?
We may ask about symptoms, habits, and sometimes suggest lab tests. From there, we explain how the body might be reacting and what to shift through food or supplements.
Is this something I’ll need help with long term?
That depends on the concern. Some people need short-term support during recovery, while others build new habits over time. We’re here to guide either way.