Energetics & Nutrition Flashcards
How have we lost our connection with intuitive eating?
We get spoilt by added sugars, denatured foods, and environmental poisons (including medication). This instinct about what our body needs are replaced by ‘food’ addictions
What are the fundamental energetic qualities?
Heat
Cold
Dryness
Moisture
Briefly list some positive components of the 4 energetic qualities.
Heat = warm body temp, healthy digestion, hormone balance, mental creativity, courage & passion
Cold = Strong body structure, firm tissues, stability, endurance, resistance, & reliability.
Dryness = Good nerve impulses, lightness of the body, mental speed, ability, & adaptability
Moisture = Good body fluids & mucous membrane, transportation of nutrients, love, & contentment.
What is the optimal balance of the energetic qualities
A healthy balance of all qualities is in the middle of all 4 but is slightly more hot and moist.
List 5 environmental, dietary, or lifestyle influences that can increase heat in the body.
Hot climate and seasons
Hot food & drink
Herbs and spices (chilli, ginger, garlic, rosemary)
Oily foods
Red meat
Stimulants such as coffee and alcohol
List 5 environmental, dietary or lifestyle influences that can increase coldness in the body.
Cold climate and seasons
Cold food and drinks
Raw and leafy foods
Bitter detoxing herbs
List 5 signs of excess heat in the body
Redness
Burning sensations
Inflammation
Acure infections
Yellow discharge
Loose stools
Irritability
Anger
List 5 conditions indicative of excess heat in the body
Any condition ending with -itis
Hypertension
Auto-immunity
Menopause
Migranes
Acid reflux
Ulcers
IBD
Inflammatory skin conditions
Stress
How might you treat excess heat?
Reduce - hot foods, spices, red meat, stimulants, fried/smoked/bbq food.
Increase: salads, raw food, green smoothies, bitter veg and herbs. Fresh air
When might you treat excess heat with warmth? What might you suggest?
In acute situations
- warm teas and spices to promote sweating and treat fevers.
- warm application to reduce inflammation
List 5 signs of excess cold in the body
Pale
Cold
Weak digestion
Muscle spasms
Tiredness
Debility
Low motivation
Emotional withdrawal
List 5 conditions indicative of excess cold in the body
Poor circulation (i.e. Raynauds)
Poor digestion (IBS)
Menstrual cramps
Hypothyroidism
Weight gain
Stiffness
Poor memory & concentration
Depression
Explain how the environment plants grow in can affect their energetic temperature.
Plants that grow slowly (i.e. Korean ginseng) are warmer than those growing quickly (salad leaves).
Plants that grow in cold environments (i.e. siberian ginseng) tend to be warming.
Chemically fertilised foods grow faster and so tend to be colder.
List 5 environmental, dietary, or lifestyle influences that can increase dryness in the body.
Dry, windy climates and seasons
Light, crunchy foods (eg biscuits)
Starchy grains
Gas-forming legumes
Astringent herbs (green tea, cinnamon)
List 5 environmental, dietary, or lifestyle influences that can increase moisture in the body.
Wet climates and seasons
Moist foods (e.g. porridge, soup)
High water containing fruit and veg
Slimy mucilaginous foods and herbs (e.g. okra, linseeds, chia seeds, aloe vera)
List 5 signs of excess dryness in the body
Weight loss
Dry skin & mucous membranes
Gas & bloating
Hyperactivity
Fear & anxiety
List 5 conditions indicative of excess heat in the body
Osteoarthritis
Dandruff
Eczema
Dry mouth
Dry cough
IBS with constipation
How would you treat excess dryness in the body?
Reduce Dry foods such as biscuits and rice cakes
Reduce starchy grains, legumes, and astringent herbs.
Increase fluids soups, broths, and high water content fruit and veg. Nut milks, muciaginous foods.
List 5 signs of excess moisture in the body
Weight gain
Fluid retention
Watery discharge
Mucus
Legathy
Lumps and cysts
Feeling over-sentimental and possessive.
List 5 conditions indicative of excess moisture in the body
Obesity
Oedema
Benign tumours
Cysts
Candida
Hay fever
Allergies
Weeping skin conditions
How might you treat excessive moisture in the body?
Reduce dairy, sweet or high water content fruit/veg, refined sugars/carbs, smoothies and slimy mucilaginous foods. Avoid steaming and boiling foods.
Increase dry, light, crunchy foods, astringent foods, warming/drying spices. Cook with grilling, baking or dry roasting.
List 5 each of the components/characteristics of Yin and Yang
Yin = Water
Cold & Moist
Matter
Contraction
Descending
Nourishing
Yang = Fire
Hot and dry
Energy
Expansion
Rising
Moving
Briefly describe the concept of yin and yang
Good health is an expression of harmony between the two. When out of balance, there is dis-ease.
Describe some Yin foods
Cooling, hydrating, and nourishing.
Cooling bitter, leafy greens, watery fruit and veg.
Nourishing soups, stews, broths, dark leaft greens, fruit, yoghurt, honey, oysters, nut milk
Describe some Yang foods
Warming, drying, and moving.
Warming soups, stews, dahls, porridge, stir-frys, onion, garlic, giners, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, mustard seeds, herbal teas.
Drying grains, mushrooms, fennel seeds, horseradish, ginger.
What are the 4 principles of Yin-Yang imbalance?
- Excess Yang showing strong signs of heat
- Deficient Yin showing moderate signs of heat
- Deficient Yang showing moderate signs of cold
- Excess Yin showing strong signs of cold.
List 5 signs of excess Yang
(include tongue presentation)
Red face
Hypertensions
Anger
Headaches
Feeling hot
Thirst
Constipation
Tongue = red, poss yellow coating.
List 5 signs of Yang deficiency
(include tongue presentation)
Tired
Chilly
Pale
Loose stools
Low labido
Palpitations
Tongue = pale, swollen, wet
List 5 signs of excess Yin
(include tongue presentation)
Sharp pains
Cramps
Pale / blue-pale complexion
Cold all the time
Constipation
Tongue = blue, poss thick white coating
List 5 signs of Yin deficiency
(include tongue presentation)
Low grade fever
Dry throat at night
Night sweats
Weight loss
Flushed cheeks
Tongue = Red, cracked, dry
What energetic quality is associated with childhood?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Childhood is dominated by moisture.
Runny noses, ‘wet’ productive cough, and allergies.
(And crying)
What energetic quality is associated with teenage years and adulthood?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Dominated by heat.
Teenagers = red acne and angry outbursts.
Adults = stress, inflammation, high blood pressure.
What energetic quality is associated with mature years (50+)?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Mature years are dominated by dryness.
Wrinkles, joint stiffness, decreasing strength and stamina.
What energetic quality is associated with old age?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Old age is dominated by coldness.
Digestive power weakens, circulation reduces, we feel colder, decline in mobility, exhaustion, withdrawal.
What energetic quality is associated with Spring?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Spring is dominated by moisture.
Productive couch, runny nose, watery eyes, allergies, hay fever.
What energetic quality is associated with Summer?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Summer is dominated by heat.
Inflammation, prickly heat, sunburn, irritability.
What energetic quality is associated with Autumn?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Autumn is dominated by dryness.
Dry skin, joint stiffness, decreasing energy, anxiety.
What energetic quality is associated with Winter?
What are the symptoms associated with it?
Winter is dominated by cold.
Poor circulation, weight gain, sleepiness, low mood, seasonal affective disorder.
What are the characteristics of someone with a hot constitution?
What symptoms are they at risk of if out of balance?
Character = fiery disposition, motivated, energetic, courageous.
Risks = prone to inflammation, stress, irritability, anger, over-acidity
What are the characteristics of someone with a cold constitution?
What symptoms are they at risk of if out of balance?
Character = cool, composed, steady nature.
Prone to poor circulation, tense muscles, weak digestion, spasmodic pains, low mood.
What are the characteristics of someone with a dry constitution?
What symptoms are they at risk of if out of balance?
Character = Quick, light, adaptable nature.
Risks = Dry skin, stiff joints, dry mucosa,gas, bloating, constipation, tremors, weight loss, anxiety.
What are the characteristics of someone with a moist constitution?
What symptoms are they at risk of if out of balance?
Character = calm, reliable, loving nature
Risks = mucus, lethargy, weight gain.
Why might someone suffer imbalances of other energetic qualities?
Because of diet and lifestyle excesses shift us in any direction.
E.g. hot constitution using too many raw, cold foods in a cold climate can eventually get cold problems.
Should you treat the constitution of the individual or their symptoms?
Treat the symptoms to regain balance.
Once balance is restored, return to general constitutional recommendations, but avoid extremes.
What does energetic constitutions teach us about treating our patients?
There is no general pattern of illness, nor one correct way to eat and live. We all have different risks and different requirements across the seasons and across a lifetime if we are to regain and maintain good health.
What does ‘direction’ refer to in food energetics?
(Name the directions)
Foods have different energetic ‘vectors’.
Namely ascending, descending, centring, consolidating, or spreading out to the exterior.
Give 5 examples of ascending foods and two cooking methods.
(Hot foods)
ot spices, onion, garlic, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, sugar.
Stalky veg that grows fast and upwards - eg celery, asparagus, broccoli, parsley, sprouted seeds.
Cooking - stir-fry and dry roasting
Give 5 examples of descending foods.
(Cooling foods) Cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, raw food, veg juice.
Root vegetables such as carrots or parsnips.
Bitter foods eg spinach, rocket, kale, radishes, lemon.
Give 5 examples of centring foods and two cooking methods.
Soups, stews, porridge, steamed veg, steamed whole grains.
Round-shaped foods eg celeriac, sweet potato, squash, beetroot, artichoke, hazelnuts.
Wet cooking methods - steaming, boiling, braising
Give 5 examples of spreading out foods and two cooking methods.
What does spreading out foods help do?
Help the lungs expel pathogens - expel mucus, induce sweat, and promote circulation.
Hot foods such as spices, black pepper, ginger, chilli.
NB spices can be heating and dehydrating so best used alongside foods that are moist - eg Ginger, lemon and honey tea.
Give 3 examples of consolidating foods and one cooking methods.
Have an affinity with the kidney / adrenal function of preserving and supporting life.
Roasting vegetables is the best cooking method.
Nuts & seeds
Bone broth
Naturally fermented foods
List the 5 flavours and the organ they have affinity with.
Bitter = Heart
Sweet = TCM Spleen (digestive system)
Sour = Liver
Pungent = Lungs
Salty = Kidneys (& adrenals)
What are sugar cravings indicative of?
Digestive weakness.
Giving in to them further compromises digestions. Substitute sugar with naturally sweet fruit and veg, and raw honey.
Give some examples of pungent foods
Hot and spicy foods -
Ginger, black pepper, mustard, cayenne, horseradish, onion.
What is the doctrine of signature?
Give 2 examples
This is the link between appearance and effects on our body, whereby plants and food carry ‘signs’ of their properties.
Kidney beans have an affinity with the kidneys.
Walnuts have an affinity with the brain.
Briefly outline what types of foods have an affinity with the digestive system.
Sweet foods
Wet-cooked foods
Round-shaped foods
Spices
Briefly outline what foods have an affinity with the lungs.
Pungent / spicy foods
Roasted almons, pine nuts and thyme.
Moistening foods.
Broccoli and cauliflower
Briefly outline what types of foods have an affinity with the kidneys & adrenals.
Dishes cooked with bone, cartilage and marrow.
Cold pressed poils
Kidney beans, black beans
Briefly outline what types of foods have an affinity with the liver.
Dark leaves and vegetables.
Red-coloured foods
Briefly outline what foods have an affinity with the emotional heart.
Pistachios, poppy seeds, rose, vanilla, lotus seeds uplight the spirit.
Cooking methods involving expansion or swirling.
Bitter taste helps drain bitterness from the heart.
