The energetic movements of food

The four movements of food: upward, downward, outward and inward.

LIFTING

TCM food movements: Lifting    

Actions: To move from lower region towards upper region   

 Effects: The upward movements arrest diarrhea, and hold internal organs in their proper places (to prevent them prolapse or sinking)   

 Food samples: Wine    

 Associated properties of food: Warm or hot in energy, pungent or sweet in flavor

FLOATING

TCM food movements: Floating    

Actions: To move from inside towards outside  

  Effects: The outward movements induce perspiration and dissipate body heat    

Food samples: Ginger

Associated properties of food: Warm or hot in energy, pungent or sweet in flavor

LOWERING

TCM food movements: Lowering    

Actions: To move from upper region towards lower region   

 Effects: The downward movements relieve vomiting, hiccupping, coughing and panting   

 Food samples: Salt    

Associated properties of food: Cool or cold in energy, sour or bitter or salty in flavor

SINKING

TCM food movements: Sinking   

 Actions: To move from outside towards inside 

Food samples: Vinegar  

Effects: The inward movements slow down bowel movements and relieve abdominal distention

Associated properties of food: Cool or cold in energy, sour or bitter or salty in flavor

The five flavors of food

      
Flavors : Pungent    

Organs affected : Lung, Large intestine    

   Effects: Promote distributions and circulations, and stimulate appetite.    

Food samples: Fresh ginger, onion, leeks, green onion, Sichuan peppercorn, garlic, celery, coriander, Chinese chives, fennel, spearmint, Chinese radish, radish leaf, chili pepper, sweet peppers, turnips, taro, leaf mustard, Shanghai cabbage, cinnamon, tangerine peel, kumquat, mustard seed and wine. 

      
Flavors : Sweet    

Organs affected : Stomach , Spleen    

Effects: Slow down acute reactions and neutralize the toxic effects of other foods, and also lubricate and nourish the body.    

Food samples: Honey, dates, shiitake mushroom, taro, sweet potato, potato, pumpkin, carrot, glutinous rice, peas, soybean, rice, wheat, corn, sugar cane, peanut, milk, apple, pears, cherry, chestnut, grapes, lotus seed, longan aril, carps and abalone.
      
Flavors : Sour    

Organs affected : Liver, Gall bladder    

Effects: The astringent character helps to arrest abnormal discharge of fluids and other substances from the body, such as diarrhea, emission and heavy sweating.    

Food samples: Lemon, tomatoes, pineapple, apple, strawberry, papaya, pears, loquat fruit, oranges, tangerines, peaches, hawthorn fruit, olives, pomegranate, plums, pomelo, mango, grapes, vinegar and royal jelly.
      
Flavors : Bitter    

Organs affected : Heart, Small intestine    

Effects: Clear heat, dry dampness, stimulate appetite, and promote lowering effects like urination and bowel movements.    

Food samples: Bitter gourd, Indian lettuce, wine, vinegar, lotus leaf, tea leaf, turnips, apricot seed, lily bulb, gingko, plum kernel, peach kernel, seaweed, pig's liver, bergamot, arrowhead, asparagus, wild cucumber and coffee.
      
Flavors : Salty    

Organs affected : Kidney, Bladder   

Effects: Dissipate accumulations, soften hardness, nourish blood, and lubricate intestines to induce bowel movements.    

Food samples: Amaranths, millet, barley, laver, preserved jellyfish, seaweed, kelp, sea clams, sea shrimps, oyster, crabs, sea cucumber, field snail, pork, pig's bone marrow, pig's blood, pig's organs, razor clam, dried mussel, ham, pigeon's egg, abalone, duck meat and cuttlefish.

The five energies of foods

        

Yin    

Energy generated: Cold 

  

 Food examples:

 Bamboo shoot, chrysanthemum, bitter gourd, lotus root, water chestnut, root of kudzu vine, wild rice stem, angled luffa, sugar cane, tomato, watermelon, banana, pomelo, grapefruit, persimmon, mulberry, star fruit, preserved jellyfish, seaweed, kelp, cuttlefish, crabs, sea clams, snails, pig's bone marrow, sprouts, water spinach, watercress, lettuces, arrowhead, salt and soya sauce.
 

Yin    

Energy generated: Cool    

Food examples:

Millet, barley, wheat, buckwheat, coix seed, eggplant, cucumber, wax gourd, loofah, Chinese radish, lettuce root, celery, peppermint, broccoli, cauliflower, leaf mustard, spinach, Peking cabbage, Chinese cabbage, amaranth, Indian lettuce, lily bulb, pea, mung bean, pears, muskmelon, apple, pineapple, coconut, strawberry, orange, tangerine, loquat fruit, mango, papaya, water caltrop, tea leaf, bean curb, mushrooms, lily flower, duck egg, egg white, pig skin, rabbit meat, conch, frogs, sesame oil, cream, yogurt and cheese.

Balanced yin and yang   

Energy generated: Neutral 

Food examples:  

Round-grained rice, corn, taro, sweet potato, potato, turnips, carrot, cabbage, radish leaf, beetroot, fuzzy melon, soybeans, adzuki beans, peanut, cashew nut, pistachio nut, lotus seed, black sesame, sunflower seed, plums, fig, grapes, lemon, olives, white fungus, black fungus, shiitake mushroom, sea shrimps, loach, pork, duck, goose, oyster, beef, quail, sea eels, egg yolk, quail egg, royal jelly honey, milk, soybean milk, rock sugar and sugar.

Yang   

Energy generated: Warm   

Food examples: 

 Coriander, Chinese chives, onion, leeks, green onion, asparagus, sweet peppers, sword bean, spearmint, Garland chrysanthemum, pomegranate, apricot, peach, cherry, litchi, longan fruit, raspberry, chestnut, pumpkin, glutinous rice, dates, walnut, pine nut, mussels, fresh water eels, sea cucumber, carps, abalone, hairtail, lobster, fresh water shrimps, chicken, mutton, sparrow, venison, pig's liver, ham, goat milk, goose egg, sparrow egg, maltose, brown sugar, cumin, clove, fennel, garlic, ginger (fresh), dill seed, nutmeg, rosemary, star anise, Sichuan peppercorn, sweet basil, sword bean, tobacco, coffee, vinegar, wine, vegetable oil, rose bud, osmanthus flowers and jasmine. 

 

Yang    

Energy generated:Hot    

Food examples: 

Black pepper, cinnamon, ginger(dried), chili pepper, and mustard seed.

Black Rice

Black Rice is one of several black-colored heirloom plants producing rice variants such as Indonesian black rice, of which Forbidden Rice is a strain. High in nutritional value, black rice is rich in iron. Unlike other black rice from Asia, it is not glutinous or rough. This grain is high in fiber and has a deep, nutty taste. 

Black forbidden rice is so named because originally it was considered the Emperor's rice and was literally forbidden for anyone else to eat it.

It is a deep black color and turns deep purple when cooked. Its dark purple color is primarily due to its high anthocyanin content. It has a relatively high mineral content (including iron) and, like most rice, supplies several important amino acids. 

According to a study presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), "one spoonful of black rice bran contains more anthocyanin antioxidants than a spoonful of blueberries and better yet, black rice offers more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants, but less sugar."