Chinese food therapy (simplified Chinese: 食疗; traditional Chinese: 食療; pinyin: Shí Liáo) is a practice of healing using natural foods instead of medications.

"Chinese food therapy is a modality of traditional Chinese medicine, also known as Chinese Nutrition therapy. It is particularly popular among Cantonese people who enjoy slow-cooked soups. One of the most commonly known is a rice soup that goes by many names including congee and jook. This is a traditional breakfast of Asian people all over the world. Congee recipes vary infinitely, depending upon the desired health benefits as well as taste."

"Chinese food therapy dates back as early as 2000 BC. However, proper documentation was only found around 500 BC. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine also known as the Niejing, which was written around 300 BC, was most important in forming the basis of Chinese food therapy. It classified food by four food groups, five tastes and by their natures and characteristics."

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Philosophy about food: "The ideas of yin and yang are used in the sphere of food and cooking. Yang foods are believed to increase the body's heat (e.g. raise the metabolism), while Yin foods are believed to decrease the body's heat (e.g. lower the metabolism). As a generalization, Yang foods tend to be dense in food energy, especially energy from fat, while Yin foods tend to have high water content. The Chinese ideal is to eat both types of food to keep the body in balance. A person eating too much Yang food might suffer from acne and bad breath while a person lacking Yin food might be lethargic or anemic."

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Early man has known that his Creator has made provision for healing dating back five thousand years ago. The first recorded writings of Indian culture called The Veda's document man's knowledge of healing through nutrition. Bible scriptures from thirty five-hundred years ago show man divinely inspired to write, "God would bless his food and water and take sickness from among them" (Exodus 23:25). As a nutritionist, I have witnessed thousands of patients be restored to health from disorders ranging from gastric disturbances, intestinal conditions, type II diabetes, hypertension, obesity and the list goes on. By developing a healthy nutritional lifestyle we can bring a balance and harmony back to our human existence and it can begin with the next meal you eat.

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If you're battling a specific malady, certain foods can help. Cold and flu symptoms are relieved by warming spices--such as ginger, curry powder and cayenne pepper--and steamy soups, which increase circulation and help to flush toxins through the body. Garlic, onions, shiitake mushrooms and foods high in beta carotene and vitamin C--carrots, kiwi and broccoli--can significantly reduce the severity and duration of colds by stimulating the defense system and increasing overall immunity. For sinus headaches, ginger and cayenne pepper can relieve sinus pain and congestion by opening up nasal passages and reducing swelling membranes. Ginger and garlic also have potent antibacterial properties that help clear up sinus infections. To ease the pain of aching muscles, spices, especially ginger and cayenne pepper, increase circulation and improve blood flow to stiff, sore areas. And calcium-rich dark leafy greens help prevent muscle cramping by supporting their flexibility......

Soup up your health

....Wonderfully comforting and nourishing, soup is our balm; it fortifies the body, soothes sore throats, clears clogged airways, fights off colds, builds strong bones, and has even been rumored to improve your love life! Its reputation as a health giving elixir is so well known that chicken soup is often called Jewish penicillin. The Chinese have been treating illnesses with soups for centuries. In the UK beef tea has an ancient reputation for healing and who could deny the Russians their borscht?

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Chicken soup

We have all heard that chicken soup is good for the sick for hundreds of years. Can it really be true?

  • Chicken soup is a favorite healing soup all over the world. It has often been called Jewish penicillin and scientists have spent time and money examining the actions of chicken soup on colds and flu. It’s no surprise that they’ve found evidence of the way chicken soup combats the symptoms of a cold.
  • Soup has anti-inflammatory properties that helped sore throats and helped stop the movement of neutrophils (white blood cells that encourage the flow of mucus that accumulates in the lungs and nose).
  • Steam is a real benefit. Sipping the hot soup and breathing in the steam helps clear up congestion. This can also be said for many hot soups.
  • Spices that are often added to chicken soup, such as garlic and pepper (all ancient treatments for respiratory diseases), work the same way as modern cough medicines, thinning mucus and making breathing easier.
  • Chicken soup contains drug-like agents similar to those in modern cold medicines. For example, an amino acid released from chicken during cooking chemically resembles the drug acetylcysteine, prescribed for bronchitis and other respiratory problems.
  • Chicken Soup puts needed fluids back into the body.