Deirdra Claiborne specializes in promoting a healthy diet using dietary principals according to traditional Chinese Medicine. She treats patients with high cholesterol, stress, anxiety, digestive disorders, bloating (such as stagnation and excessive phlegm) and suggests a diet to promote health.

In Chinese medicine, fresh, seasonal diet plays a significant role in maintaining health and vital energy. Some important guidelines are:

• Enjoy your food in a relaxed atmosphere
• Eat foods that are high in fiber
• Chew food well
• Eat portions of food that won’t overtax the system
• Eat seasonally, organically and locally
• Do not skip meals
• Keep the body hydrated

Any deficiencies or excesses in our bodies are directly affected by the food we consume. The Chinese diet is based on the theory of Yin & Yang – foods are categorized by flavors, which have specific influences on the body.
A variety of flavors is recommended.

The Five Food Flavors are:
Sweet: To strengthen, moisten and tonify. In moderation, sweet foods benefit the spleen & stomach. In excess, they damage the digestive system, and can cause abdominal distention, goiter, swelling of the lymph glands, laziness and obesity.

Pungent: To disperse stagnation and promote flow. In moderation, pungent foods benefit the lungs & large intestine. In excess, can lead to diminished strength, dizziness and emaciation, as well as burning sensations and tremors.

Salty: To moisten, soften and detoxify. In moderation, salty food benefits the kidneys & bladder. When used in excess, impairs kidney function, causes stagnation of blood, wasting of muscles and can aggravate skin conditions.

Sour: To stimulate absorption and contraction, helping break down fat. In moderation, sour food nourishes the liver & gallbladder. In excess causes sensitive teeth, twitching of the eyes, a flacid body, and creates edema in those with injuries.

Bitter: To counteract dampness. In moderation, bitter foods nourish the heart & small intestine. In excess, they produce dryness & reduce appetite.

Dampness – The digestive system is slowed down by foods that are damp/cold in nature (such as ice cream, iced drinks) as they tend to put out the “digestive fire”. This slowing of the transformation of energy and blood weakens the digestive system. Some symptoms of dampness in the body are: fatigue, body heaviness, sluggishness, excess weight, cysts, tumors, yeast infections, bloating and gas, unclear thinking, chronic sinus infections, cloudy urine, foul smelling stools, thick tongue coating.

Foods to Avoid to Reduce Dampness
dairy
wheat
cold drinks, cold raw foods, fruit juice
breads, pasta, pastries, processed foods, refined flour
refined sugar and sugar substitutes
deep fried foods
alcohol, coffee
avocado, bananas, peanuts and peanut butter

Foods to Eat to Reduce Dampness
organic lightly cooked vegetables, celery, corn, pumpkin, turnip, watercress
alfalfa sprouts, button mushrooms, capers, radish
amaranth, barley, brown rice, oats, rye
adzuki beans, kidney beans, legumes, lentils
small amounts of lean organic fish, meat, poultry
small amounts of whole fruits, lemon
kelp, pumpkin seeds, seaweed, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds
green tea, jasmine tea, raspberry leaf tea

Yang energy is responsible for warming and activating bodily functions.
Symptoms of Yang Deficiency include: cold hands and feet, frequent, pale urination, low libido, low back pain or weakness, pre-menstrual lower back pain, shortened luteal phase.

Foods to Avoid for Yang Deficiency
cold food and liquids
raw foods especially in the fall and winter
damp producing foods

Foods to Add to Tonify Yang (tend to be warming and drying)
chestnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts
lamb, trout, venison
black pepper, cinnamon, clove, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, peppermint, chai & jasmine tea
cayenne, horseradish, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, thyme, turmeric

Yin energy is responsible for moistening and cooling. Symptoms of Yin Deficiency include: internal heat, hot flashes, night sweats, ringing in the ears, prematurely grey hair, lower back pain, vaginal dryness, shortened menstrual cycle.

Foods to Avoid for Yin Deficiency
sugar
alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes
artificial stimulants, recreational drugs

Foods to Add to Tonify Yin (tend to be cooling and moistening to the body) hot spicy foods
barley, millet, sesame seeds, black sesame seeds
adzuki beans, black beans, kidney beans, black soya beans, mung beans
duck, egg, fish, pork
artichoke, asparagus, peas, potato, seaweed, sweet potato, yam
apple, banana, pear, pomegranate, watermelon