Nutrition Guidelines for Cold Accumulation

According to TCM theory, cold can invade the body and become stuck in the channels,
causing pain where the cold is obstructing the flow of blood and energy (Qi). To resolve
this pattern, the channels must be warmed, and the cold expelled from the body.
The digestive process can be compared to a pot of soup sitting over a fire. The body’s
metabolic “fire” cooks the ingested food, which makes it easier for the body to extract
nutrients from it and convert it into energy. So, when cold has accumulated in the body,
it is especially important to eat cooked, warming foods. Eating smaller meals more
frequently, sitting down to relax while you eat, and chewing thoroughly to savor the
flavours, also improve the digestive process.
For cold accumulation, the ratio of food groups should be as follows:
40% easily digested complex carbohydrates like grains and root vegetables
30-40% cooked vegetables
10-20% protein
Foods that Expel Cold
cooked grains, soups, baked or roasted food, rice oats, roasted barley, sweet rice
onions, leeks, garlic, chives, spring onions, parsnips, peas, turnip, baked vegetables
chickpeas, black beans, chestnuts
lamb, beef, chicken
mackerel, tuna, anchovy, prawns, mantis, shrimp
dry ginger, fennel, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, fresh ginger, rosemary,
turmeric, star anise, nutmeg
molasses, rice syrup, barley malt, dates
Foods to Restrict or Avoid
raw vegetables, raw fruit, citrus, wheat grass, sprouts, salads, tomatoes, spinach, swiss
chard, soybeans, tofu, soy milk, dairy, nut butters, high oil foods
seaweed
refined sugar, vinegar, high doses of vitamin C
chocolate
cold foods like ice cream or smoothies, iced drinks