Healing Foods

Presents an interview with Asian cuisine expert Nina Simonds regarding food that heals. Yin/yang approach to food and health; Link between food and health; Recommended lesser-known foods.

By PT Staff, published on July 01, 1999

DIET

Three balanced meals a day may keep the doctor away. So say the Chinese, who believe that food has therapeutic properties. Asian cuisine authority Nina Simonds incorporates this holistic approach to food in her new cookbook, A Spoonful of Ginger (Knopf, 1999), and spoke to PT about the concept of food as medicine for mind and body.

Explain the yin/yang approach to food and health

Yin and yang are opposing forces, and this also applies to food. The Chinese believe that foods are classified as yin, or cooling, yang, or heating, and neutral. Similarly, most people have a predisposition of yin or yang. Women traditionally are yin and men yang. Yin people tend to be pale and often feel cold. Yang people are heavyset and may have a ruddy complexion. Disease occurs when there's an imbalance of the two. Food plays a key role in maintaining that balance.

Why do you emphasize the link between food and health?

The point is, we can really prevent disease. We can empower ourselves instead of relying so much on fate and physicians. I'm not saying that these recipes take the place of seeing a doctor. But diet is a predictor of health we can control.

What are some lesser-known foods that you recommend?

Ginger helps prevent nausea and aids digestion. It kills bacteria, so eating it helps fight cold and cough. It may also relieve rheumatism. Similarly, garlic is a powerful anti-infection agent. It kills bacteria, reduces blood cholesterol by lowering high blood pressure, aids circulation and may even fight cancer. Like ginger, it aids digestion, which may be one reason that Chinese meat dishes have classically been cooked with both. I believe they will become increasingly important in the new millennium.