In Traditional Chinese Medicine, food is not evaluated only by calories, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, or minerals.
Each food also has an energetic nature and produces different effects inside the body.
Some foods increase Heat and activity, which means they have a stronger Yang effect.
Other foods cool, hydrate, and slow excessive activity, representing a stronger Yin effect.
However, this does not mean that Yang foods are bad and Yin foods are good.
Everything depends on the person’s internal condition.
Someone with excessive internal Heat needs a completely different dietary strategy from someone with a Cold pattern or weakness.
The objective is not to permanently eliminate certain foods, but to understand how food influences the body and how it can be used to restore balance.
This is one of the reasons why, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the same diet cannot be applied to every person.
Below you can find a table organized according to the thermal nature of foods, from Extreme Yang to Extreme Yin.
Yin foods, Yang foods, and neutral foods.
| Thermal Nature | Foods / Consumptions |
|---|
| 🟥 Extreme Yang | black pepper, piri-piri, chili pepper, dried ginger, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, strong mustard, spicy curry, wasabi, very strong alcoholic drinks (brandy, whisky, vodka, rum) |
| 🎀 Very Yang | beef, game meat, lamb, goat, tuna, sardines, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, shrimp, seafood, eggs, honey, peanuts, garlic, raw onion, coffee, cocoa, dark chocolate, wine, alcohol, cured cheese, prosciutto, cured meats, bacon, canned foods, preservatives, colorants, flavor enhancers |
| 🌸 Moderate Yang | chicken, turkey, duck, semi-cured cheese, green tea, black tea, brown sugar, sugar, milk chocolate |
| 🟨 Slightly Yang | white rice, brown rice, oats, wheat, rye, barley, corn, white bread, whole bread, pasta, sweet potato, chestnuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, lentils, chickpeas, beans |
| ⬜ Neutral | potatoes, quinoa, tofu, mushrooms, peas, green beans, lettuce, apple, pear, grapes, figs, dried dates, olive oil, butter, margarine, avocado |
| 🧊 Slightly Yin | carrot, pumpkin, zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, turnip, radish, beetroot, peach, plum, apricot |
| 🟪 Moderate Yin | cucumber, watermelon, melon, banana, mango, kiwi, strawberry, pineapple, papaya, orange, lemon, tangerine, mint tea, chamomile tea, chrysanthemum tea |
🟦 Very Yin | milk, yogurt, fresh cheese, mozzarella, cold drinks, soft drinks, industrial juices, beer |
| ⬛ Extreme Yin | ice, ice water, frozen foods consumed directly, very cold ice cream |