Food Energy affects every one of us every single day. It occurs on several levels. Different foods have different "personalities," just like people do. We've attempted to capture the essence of these personalities at an intuitive level in the "Favorite Veggies" section of this website. We hope you'll be entertained and amused as you explore the use of fresh foods.
And yet there's more. Here we'll briefly explore just a couple of food energy attributes.
Food energy and "chi"
Several years ago, I (Elizabeth) embarked upon a health-promoting journey that include answering the question "What should I eat to be healthy?" Of course good health involves more than simply what one eats, but food is important!
I was in consultation with an acupuncturist at the time, and he had a lot of ideas about what a person should eat. I decided to ask his opinion.
"Do you suggest," I asked, "That a person should eat organic foods whenever possible?"
"Not necessarily," the acupuncturist replied. "It all depends on which food has the best chi. You may find some conventionally-grown foods that have better chi than organic, in which case I'd go with the good chi."
I must have looked puzzled. Here I had been doing my best to work out the best course from among the choices of low-fat, vegetarian, low-sugar, minimally-processed organic foods. Things seemed quite limited and frankly a little bleak already. And now I had to factor in a quality I really didn't even understand and couldn't quite put my finger on. Chi. Oh brother!
Perhaps you've felt the same way.
As it turns out, things aren't really so difficult. You can kind of sense food energy. Fresher, less processed foods generally have better chi than foods that have been picked and then held and/or transported a long distance before they reach you, grown with the use of harsh chemicals, or heavily processed. Processing removes nutrients and adds an abundant supply of chemicals to your diet, all in the name of "food safety." Ironic, isn't it?
Things like the place and fertility of the land where the food was grown, production methods, and even the attitude or state of mind of the farmer all factor in to the energy of the food you eat.
When you choose locally-sourced foods, you not only get fresher foods, but you also have the opportunity to learn a little bit about the conditions under which your food was grown, and by whom. To see how "happy" it was while it was growing up!
It also turns out that the vegetarian and low-fat pieces of the puzzle I was working through at the time weren't quite on target either. Food energy, regional adaptation, preparation methods, and nutrient value trump some of the other stuff. Which makes things much simpler to manage.
Here's the easiest way I have of explaining what may seem like a rather lofty idea. Consider the food you're about to purchase or consume. Focus your attention on it. Do you feel good about putting that food in your body — about adding its energy to yours? If so, you've probably got your hands on some food with good chi.
Was that warming energy or cool?
Around the same time, I also consulted with a very well-rounded physical therapist in whose clinic I was working as a neuromuscular therapist. One morning, I was feeling particularly drained and I mentioned it to her. After asking me a few more questions, she suggested that perhaps my energy was too "cool" and that the addition of some "warming" foods might help.
This was also a brand new idea. Yet at the time I felt so poorly that I felt I had little to lose by trying out her suggestion. On the way home from work that day, I stopped at the produce market and picked up some fresh ginger. I sliced some off and steeped it in hot water for a half hour or so, then added a little lemon juice and honey for a nice warming cup of tea.
"Oh wow!" I thought as the tea gently slipped into my system. "This is wonderful!" I could literally feel the warm ginger bringing new life (energy) into my depleted body.
I took the physical therapist's advice one more time and had an energy analysis consultation done, in order to get the additional information it was obvious I needed. Indeed, the analysis revealed that my system was much "too cool" and that a focus on "warming foods and herbs" would most likely help bring me into balance.**
Well, I'm here to tell you it worked. As I followed the recommended warming foods diet, it wasn't long before I began to feel much better than I had in a long time. I also made a number of other energy-enhancing lifestyle changes and things turned around rather remarkably.
Even now, though I'm delighted to say that my state of health is good, I keep in mind the warming and cooling foods principles. It's actually kind of fun! In the summer, I allow myself the treat of some raw foods and even ... the occasional delicious cucumber salad. Come fall, I break out the ginger tea, soups, and stews. I've even discovered a fabulous source of locally-raised lamb. You guessed it — lamb is highly warming!
As you browse through our "Favorite Veggie" pages, you'll find that we offer some general guidance on the warming or cooling nature of the different vegetables and herbs. Enjoy them in good health!
**Please keep in mind that while my particular energy requires the generous consumption of warming foods in order to maintain its balance, yours could just as likely be the opposite. Please consult with a qualified practitioner in order to obtain a personalized recommendation for your own situation.
