Food and Life

Food is one way the body receives energy. Whether you’re looking to heal, detoxify, or maintain balance, the choices you make matter.

We merge modern day thinking with ancient wisdom by selecting foods with high alkaline properties, then raise the bar to include essence. The healing properties of foods go beyond their physical assets, such as vitamins, minerals, and calories, to their spiritual and energetic aspects. Each food carries a vibration or essence that resonates within the body at the Qi level. This level is where your deep healing begins and becomes sustainable.

Essence is the true identity and capability of each food or herb. No matter how you change it—bake, broil, sauté, fry, grind, grill, or blend—its distinct energetic signature and the unique actions it can take remain unchanged. Once you understand this ancient wisdom, we think you will appreciate the amazing potential foods possess.

Role of Digestion and Cooperation

It’s fascinating to see what happens to the foods you swallow. The Stomach receives food. Its main job is to process what you’ve eaten and partner with the Spleen to extract the nutritive essence. The Liver supports this process as well. This essence is then sent to the Lung, which distributes it to other organs to support their functions.

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Suggested Foods

One rule of thumb that deserves extra attention is, do not eat raw veggies, even juiced. Digesting raw vegetables requires the Stomach to expend more energy—energy you need for health and healing. It also creates a condition known as internal cold. Vegetables are best eaten steamed, baked, or lightly sautéed. Fruit is fine in its original state.

Many common foods are Qi powerhouses. They help detoxify the body, expelling “internal cold,” a precondition of breast cancer. For recipes on many of these foods please visit our alternate main site, tcmworld.org.

Vegtables

  • All leafy greens
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Broccoli rabe
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Dandelion greens
  • Escarole
  • Eggplant
  • Fennel
  • Garlic
  • Green beans
  • Green peas
  • Ginger
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Pumpkin
  • Radishes
  • Scallions
  • Spinach
  • Sprouts
  • Watercress

Fish

  • Clams
  • Lobster
  • Mussels
  • Oysters
  • Shrimp
  • Cold water fish (salmon, flounder)

Other Foods

  • Almonds
  • Chestnuts
  • Peanuts
  • Pine nuts
  • Amaranth
  • Millet
  • Quinoa
  • Tofu
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Fermented foods

Fruits

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Avocados
  • Bananas
  • Berries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cherries
  • Coconut
  • Cucumbers
  • Dates
  • Figs
  • Grapes
  • Grapefruit
  • Kiwi
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Oranges
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Pineapples
  • Tomatoes
  • Watermelons

Asian Foods

  • Bamboo shoots
  • Black beans
  • Chinese red dates
  • Chinese pearl barley
  • Lotus root
  • Lily bulb
  • White fungus
  • Green tea (any kind except decaffeinated)
  • Lotus seeds
  • Mung beans
  • Red beans
  • Seaweed

Spices

  • Chili powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Miso
  • Mustard
  • Tamari
  • Tumeric

Eating in Harmony

Go beyond what you eat and consider how you eat. Eating in an unhealthy manner can disrupt the normal functioning of your Stomach. Since half of all breast cancers are caused in part by a Stomach function disorder, it is essential to keep this organ happy and healthy.

Guidelines

  • Eat larger meals earlier in the day.
  • Don’t eat late at night. Allow your digestive system time to work and rest.
  • Eat until you feel satisfied, but not full.  Digestion uses a lot of Qi. Save that Qi for healing.
  • Don’t work or multitask while eating. Enjoy your meal in a relaxed environment.
  • No raw salads or vegetables.
  • Drink lots of tea and soup.
  • If you’re undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, eat small meals more frequently and avoid charred and deep-fried food.

Foods for Surgery

In the body, blood and Qi are inseparable and travel together. Surgery often causes patients to lose a lot of blood and Qi, which must be replaced. It’s essential to prepare for this situation.

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Foods for Chemotherapy and Radiation

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments take a big toll on the body’s energy systems, and the digestive system is one of the most vulnerable. That’s why patients often experience nausea, appetite loss, and Qi deficiency. The second area impacted is Kidney function. Signs of distress are hair loss, bone aches, chills, diarrhea, joint pain, and fatigue.

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Some Soothing Recipes

  • 4 pieces of ginger
  • 1 tsp. of honey
  • Peel from 1 orange
  • 1 pinch of rosemary
  • 1 pinch of cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a pot of water (about 2 quarts) and let the tea steep for 15 minutes; drink hot, two times per day while symptoms are present.

  • 1 cup of Chinese barley
  • 1/2 cup of lotus seed
  • 1/2 cup of Chinese red dates.

Put all ingredients in one pot, cover with about 5 cups of water. Once the mixture boils, lower it to a simmer and cook for about an hour or until the barley is soft but not mushy. Feel free to add cinnamon or berries. Enjoy as a warm breakfast food or any other meal.

  • 5-10 scallions, the white part only
  • 4 pieces of ginger
  • 2 tsp. of brown sugar

Add ingredients to water in a pot and bring to a boil; add brown sugar and drink hot.

  • Dandelion greens
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Place dandelion greens in a bowl and smash them to a pulp. Add a little bit of olive oil and mix. Apply to skin sores daily.

  • 6 pears, chopped
  • 1-2 cups of water

Place all ingredients in a large pot and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain juice and drink throughout the day. Enjoy the cooked pears separately.

  • Dandelion Tea

Rinse one bunch of organic dandelion leaves. Add to a 1/2 gallon of boiling water. Allow the leaves to simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day.

Watermelon-An easy and delicious detoxifyer!

  • 1/2 lb. walnuts
  • 1/2 lb. Black sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp.  honey

 

Grind ingredients together in a blender. Cook in a double boiler or steam for one hour. After cooking, refrigerate. Eat two tablespoons in the morning and two in the evening.