The Five Elements in Foods From Your Body Knows See also: An approach to thriving Immune and pancreas supporting diet. When it comes to food and the enjoyment of eating, the experience of each flavor stimulates various physiological functions. When we eat, our nervous system transmits signals to the brain about the type, potency and characteristics of the food and flavors experienced. When our brain receives these signals, it recognizes the flavors and the way the energy moves. Salty, sour and bitter foods are considered yin or cooling, with a downward-moving energy. Yin flavors tend to develop and diminish quickly. Sweet and pungent foods are considered yang or warming, with an upward-moving energy. Yang flavors are slower to be sensed and linger in the mouth. It’s important to eat a wide variety of foods during the day; meals that are balanced with all five flavors (bitter, sweet, pungent, salty, sour). When we overemphasize one flavor such as sweet or salty, our experience is less harmonizing. It leaves us with cravings and feeling less than satisfied. This is also why eating the same foods everyday can cause imbalances and an insatiable hunger. Pay attention to how you feel after a meal; are you satisfied or wanting a little something else? How you eat is as important as what you eat. If you gobble down your meal watching television or while driving, it will not be as nourishing or life supporting as when you eat with awareness. When eating a meal, notice the sounds, sensations, sights, tastes and smells around you. Chew your food thoroughly to allow the molecules to interact with your sense of taste and smell. This improves the quality of what you taste and nourishes all of the senses. As you experience the flavors of food in the next section, you may begin to notice your taste buds communicating and changing. Notice how the tip of the tongue loves sweetness, the sides of the tongue love salty and sour flavors and the back of the tongue loves bitter flavors. When we combine all the flavors in one meal, a feeling of satiety takes over and we can continue with our day free of cravings. The recipes in section II are designed to create a sense of balance within the palate. The concentrates we use in the recipes contain the five flavors, the five colors and the aspects of each of the elements. If you combine them with any of your meals or eat them before a perhaps unbalanced meal, you may experience less cravings and feel more satisfied and therefore eat less. Take time to listen to your body’s signals. Eat only when truly hungry. Stop when you feel satisfied rather than full. Use the recipes in section II to help you reach this state of fulfillment As the seasons change, we change. When we move outside the laws of nature, or resist change, we experience difficulty. By learning to adapt to external changes while you recognize and clear inner blockages, you learn to maintain health. When you are out of balance, you are more sensitive to change and susceptible to illness. At times of seasonal change, the increased stress can make you more vulnerable to sickness. Thus, during these periods you may need greater awareness and care. By identifying the element that you wish to strengthen, work through the relevant section taking care to avoid or minimize the foods that can damage the element and work with some of the ingredients and tastes to enhance the element. Included in this section are the types of exercise to strengthen the element and speed up your metabolism, which in turn allows the elimination and cleansing process to be activated more quickly by increasing oxygen supply to the blood, lungs, and brain. The Wood Element The wood element corresponds to the color green, the immune system, sour taste, and the organs liver and gallbladder. It signifies Spring, the green of young plants. It is crisp, clean and refreshing. The Spring is the season of renewal with lengthening days and increased activity. The sun rises earlier, beginning new projects, and increasing physical activity with cardiovascular exercise, moving meditations, and stretching are all appropriate this time of year. Green is the color of the heart center, healing, balance, transformation, love and compassion, generosity, growth and peace. The liver and gallbladder are responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient flow of energy throughout the body. This system is sensitive to stress and emotional upset, and if this flow is compromised, emotional and physical symptoms appear. A healthy wood element provides a person with the vision to plan his or her life, the courage to act on this vision, and the ability to solve problems along the way with a balance of flexibility and commitment. Examples of discomforts and symptoms that may involve a problem of the wood element are depression, mood swings, inappropriate anger, PMS with irritability, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, irregular or painful periods, abdominal or side pain, and migraine headaches. Foods belonging to the wood element are asparagus, avocados, broccoli, brussel sprouts, celery, chives, leeks, spring onions, cucumbers, green grapes, green peppers, kiwi, dark leafy green vegetables, nettles, okra, lemons, limes, kale, carrots, zucchini, beets, oregano, peas, parsley, mango, pear, plum, rosemary, sauerkraut, pickles, vinegar, sprouts, nandina flower and many other herbs and spices. Foods to avoid or minimize are fatty foods, deep-fried foods, heavy refined oils and alcohol. The Fire Element The fire element corresponds to the color red, purple, lavenders, violets, and pinks, bitter taste, and the endocrine system. The fire element oversees the most yang time of the year: Summer. The days are longer with increased amount of daylight. The warmer temperature encourages rising earlier, vigorous physical activity, travel, and recreation. The heart circulates blood through the body and is the center of the mental/emotional self. It controls consciousness, memory, speech, and the ability to interact with others and form healthy relationships. The small intestine sorts the “pure from the impure” both physically (digestion) and mentally (weighing options and making sound decisions). Red signifies heat and excitement, vitality, strength, passion, and will power. It helps one feel present and grounded. Red can help improve athletic performance or when quick energy bursts are required. Imbalances of the fire element may manifest themselves as insomnia, nightmares, mania, inappropriate laughter, anxiety, heart palpitations, high or low blood pressure, poor memory, speech disturbances, and sores on the tongue. Food preparation should emphasize minimal cooking with light, spicy flavor. Foods belonging to the fire element are beets, cayenne, cherries, cranberries, dulse, hibiscus flowers, kidney beans, pink grapefruit, radishes, red apples, red cabbages, red peppers, red plums, rhubarb, rose hips, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, mung beans, olives, cucumbers, curry, radish leaf, arugula, dandelion, large leafy plants, Chinese yam root, and many other herbs and spices. Foods to avoid or minimize when working with the fire element are hidden salts and eggs in baked goods such as cakes, cookies, pastries and pies. The Earth Element The earth element corresponds to the colors yellow, brown, and oranges, sweet taste and the digestive system. It signifies the late Summer as well as sunny, cheerful, joyous, optimistic, confident, and illuminating. It is associated with knowledge, wisdom, logic and the mind. Activities involving meditation, gentle stretching, and moderate exercise are seasonally appropriate. Yellow can enhance alertness, concentration, communication, and focus. It can be helpful with depression, fear, tension, motion sickness, and allergies. This transitional and transformational time of the year is reflected in the roles of the spleen and stomach: to digest and transform food into accessible nutrients and energy. The Earth element is responsible for academic thought and the processing of new information into usable and relevant skills. Examples of problems involving the earth element include poor appetite, nausea, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, bad breath, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, blood sugar imbalances, craving for sweets, excessive or inappropriate worry, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Foods belonging to the earth element are millet, bananas, honey, golden apples, cinnamon, corn, chamomile, grapefruit, cabbages, yams, lemons, lemongrass, nuts, yellow peppers, yellow squash, pumpkin, parsnips, peaches, potato, pineapple, vegetable oils, carrot, sesame oil, beets, onions, dates, almonds, pecans, walnuts, cherry, collard, chard, figs, honeydew, watermelon, coconut, panax ginseng root, and many other herbs and spices. Foods to avoid or minimize when working with the earth element are all dairy products and refined sugars, especially the combination of the two in baked flour products like cheesecake. The Metal Element The metal element corresponds to the colors white, silver and dark shades of grey and gold, Autumn, pungent taste and the respiratory system. It’s a time of cooler temperatures and shorter days where you gather energy and begin an inward focus. The organs that rule taking in and letting go appropriately are the colon and lungs. The Autumn is the time to organize the open and perhaps scattered patterns of the previous warmer seasons. Increasing meditative activities, concentrating on storing and preserving energy for the coming colder weather, are beneficial: meditation, yoga, deep breathing, visualization, and prayer. A healthy metal element provides ample energy, resistance to disease, and the emotional capacity to experience loss. Weakness associated with the metal element includes shortness of breath, wheezing, bronchitis, low energy, weak voice, cough, sinus congestion, frequent colds and/or flu, allergies, spontaneous sweating, diarrhea, dysentery, and colitis. Foods belonging to the metal element are parsley, kale, garlic, ginger, scallions, onions, coconut, pine nut, daikon radish, collard greens, dandelion leaves, spirulina, Chinese cabbage, leeks, celery, cucumbers, pears, apples, cinnamon, peppermint, mustard and turnip greens, turnips, watercress, cauliflower, dill, fennel, thyme, ginger root, horseradish, cinnamon, cayenne, basil, rosemary, Chinese mint leaf, and many other herbs and spices. Foods to avoid or minimize when working with the metal element are all foods which contain animal fat and foods that are overcooked or burnt including toast and crackers. The Water Element The water element corresponds to the colors blue and black, Winter, salty taste and the circulatory system, bladder and kidneys. The water element is associated with the most yin time of the year: Winter. The foods and activities beneficial for this system are those that reflect the shorter days and relative stillness and quiet. It is a time to sleep later and be moderate with activity such as swimming and rowing. It is even considered normal to put on a few pounds during the Winter season. The kidneys and bladder are responsible for water metabolism. The kidneys also store the fundamental energies of the body’s yin, yang, and essence. The kidneys rule the back, knees, ears, skeleton, and marrow. They also play a pivotal role in fertility and hormonal processes. Disorders of the water element include low back pain, night sweats, weak knees, tinnitus, infertility, frequent urination, overactive bladder, general weakness, osteoporosis, bone disorders, phobias, excessive fear, and dementia. Foods belonging to the water element are salt, naturally fermented soya sauce, celery, kelp and other sea veggies, cauliflower, potato, black sesame seeds, watermelon, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, beets, asparagus, buckwheat, black rice, burdock root and other roots of plants, black beans, seaweed, black sesame seeds, walnuts, barley, miso, cassia tora seed, and many other herbs and spices. Foods to avoid or minimize when working with the water element are the use of cold foods, ice cold liquids, tropical fruits and ice cream.

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