Dietary Therapy for Yin Deficiency

By Dr. Rob Benhuri, D. Ac

www.healing-kind.com

If you are yin deficient, it is important that you eat more foods that cool and moisten your body, and avoid those that heat and dry it. In general this means more fresh fruit and vegetables, along with a moderate amount of dairy products, meat and eggs.

The Best Foods and Drinks for Yin Deficiency

Some of the best foods and drinks for yin deficiency include:

Grains

•      Barley

•      Millet

•      Quinoa

•      Wheat

Fruit

•      Apple

•      Apricot

•      Avocado

•      Banana

•      Lemon/lime

•      Mango

•      Melon (especially watermelon)

•      Mulberry

•      Pear

•      Persimmon

•      Pineapple

•      Pomegranate

Vegetables

•      Artichoke

•      Asparagus

•      Bean sprouts (alfalfa, mung bean)

•      Peas

•      Potato

•      Sweet potato

•      Tomato

•      Seaweed

•      Spinach

•      String beans

•      Water chestnut

•      Yam

Beans

•      Adzuki beans

•      Black beans

•      Black soy beans

•      Kidney beans

•      Mung beans

•      Soy products (soy milk, tofu etc.)

Nuts and Seeds

•      Coconut milk

•      Sesame seeds

•      Black sesame seeds

•      Walnuts

Herbs and Spices

•      Marjoram

•      Nettles

•      American ginseng

•      Royal jelly

Animal Products

•      Butter

•      Cheese

•      Cow's milk

•      Eggs

•      Beef

•      Duck

•      Goose

•      Pork (especially pork kidneys)

•      Rabbit

•      Bone broth

Seafood

•      Clams

•      Crab

•      Cuttlefish

•      Oysters

•      Octopus

•      Sardines (including the small, edible bones)

Other

•      Honey

•      Malt

In addition to eating more of these yin nourishing foods, you should also use more yin cooking methods such as boiling or steaming. Soups, stews and congee are all ideal ways of preparing more yin meals. This is because yin is fluid, and all of these cooking methods involve using water. If you are eating the cooking liquid along with the foods then all the better.

Foods to Avoid in Yin Deficiency

Foods and drinks to avoid or consume in moderation include:

•      Alcohol

•      Caffeine (tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks)

•      Chili peppers

•      Cinnamon

•      Garlic

•      Ginger

•      Onions

•      Lamb

•      Veal

•      Shrimp

You should also avoid very yang cooking methods such as frying, roasting and grilling. These methods require a high heat and reduce the amount of water (yin) in your food. Therefore, they should only be used occasionally if your yin is deficient.

Good Eating Habits for Yin Deficiency

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is not only important to pay attention to what you eat, but also to how you eat it. Stomach-yin deficiency is a common issue in the western world, and is often caused by bad habits such as eating on the go or eating late at night. If you have been diagnosed with yin deficiency, here are some good eating habits which should help you to increase your yin and rebalance your entire system.

Eat bigger meals earlier in the day

According to TCM theory, your Stomach operates at its peak between 7am and 9am. This is why it is usually recommended that you eat a large breakfast, a medium-sized lunch and a small evening meal. It is best to eat your last meal of the day as early as possible so that your digestive organs have a chance to rest overnight. That way you will be more than ready for your hearty breakfast the following day.

Don't skip meals

Your Stomach likes routine, so eat around the same time each day and avoid the temptation to skip meals, even if you are busy. Missing a meal might save you time, but it will also mean that you have less energy and focus throughout the day. If you are short on time in the mornings, try preparing breakfast and lunch the night before to take off some of the pressure.

Take time out to eat

Eating on the go, at your desk, while studying or stressed can all put an extra strain on your digestion, according to TCM. It is important to sit down to eat and focus on your food. Chew every mouthful properly and enjoy your meal. Take at least a few minutes to let your foods settle before going back to whatever you were doing.

Don't overeat

It is often tempting to overeat, but this will make you feel sluggish and bloated as well as reducing your Stomach's ability to digest foods properly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that you have eaten enough, so stop eating just before you feel full. This should prevent you from getting to the stage of being uncomfortably stuffed.

Eat sweet, but avoid too much sugar

In TCM, foods with a sweet flavor can be divided into two categories; full sweet and empty sweet. Full-sweet foods include most meats, beans, nuts, dairy and starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes and yams. Empty-sweet foods include many fruits, sugar and other sweeteners. It is considered beneficial to have some sweet food with each meal, but the majority should come from the full-sweet category, leaving the empty-sweet foods for occasional treats.