Grow & Thrive With The Right Food For You

When I go food shopping I make the most of the culturally diverse grocery stores.

Not only are these stores stocked with our well-known favourites but they are enriched with a wide range of fruits, vegetables and herbs that we may not be so familiar with; a great opportunity to try something new!

Every whole or plant based food has their own energetic properties, I’m always surprised at the tastes and the range of nutritional value and health benefits received.

Eating a balanced diet means that we have a balance in sugar, salt, sour and bitter foods. Therefore we are taking in the right nutrients, nourishing our organs; our bodies are more in an alkaline state and we are able to concentrate clearly, focus well and feel energetic.

We can all experience cravings at some point, whether it’s a morning coffee, or afternoon pastry, however this can indicate that something is unbalanced. Maybe we haven’t slept well or we ate too late and body has been working hard overnight. If we take stock of what we eat, drink and how we feel, our bodies reveal a great deal.

A Balanced Diet Helps Us With

Our Energy Levels: A well-balanced diet provides the necessary energy to maintain productivity and focus throughout long work hours; preventing fatigue and burnout.

Our Cognitive Function: Nutrient-rich foods support brain health, improving memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins can enhance cognitive performance.

Our Stress Management: A balanced diet can help regulate hormones and therefore mood, when we are in control we are more confident. Foods high in magnesium can promote relaxation and lower anxiety.

Our Physical Health: Prevent chronic diseases and support your physical health. It helps regulate hormones, blood, organs; for men it helps with bladder and prostate, for women it helps regulate the menstrual cycle – overall leading to long-term well-being.

Our Confidence and Image: Feeling good about one’s health and appearance can boost confidence, which is essential in all aspects of life. Eating well contributes to our skin, hair, natural features, physical fitness – positively impacting our zest for life, our work whilst contributing to a vibrant environment for those around us.

Help Your Body Grow & Thrive

Our bodies are unique.  

As a Clinical Acupuncturist I will take the your pulse of your organs. By understanding your symptoms, your primary health concern I can understand your body’s natural constitution and which element it aligns with (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water or Wood).

Each element is associated with a different organ/ colour/ sense / emotion / taste and much more.
Each whole food has a different energetic property, look at the nutritional value in the following categories of food:

Green Foods
Nourish: Liver & Gallbladder
Element: Wood
Helps in energy, blood control. Reducing heavy sweats. Drying mucous and dampness Vegetable: Bitter gourd. Reduces blood sugar has cancer fighting properties.

Yellow Foods
Nourish: Spleen, Stomach & Pancreas
Element: Earth
Boosts energy, lubricates body, helps with constipation. To be eaten in moderate amounts. Fruit: Plantain. Boosts immune system, lowers blood pressure

White Foods
Nourish: Lungs & Large Intestine
Element: Metal
Promotes blood and circulation. Boosts energy, lubricates body, helps with constipation.   Vegetable: Onion. Reduces symptoms of cold & flu, regulates blood sugar.

Red Foods
Nourish: Heart & Small Intestine  
Element: Fire
Clears heat, helps detox, encourages appetite. Helps with urination & bowel movements. Fruit: Pomegranate: Anti-inflammatory properties, good for heart health.

Purple Foods
Nourish: Kidneys & Bladder
Element: Water
Reduces stagnation, boosts energy, helps with constipation. Nourishes blood. Helps with detox for the body.
Vegetable: Aubergine. Improves blood circulation, prevents diabetes.

Quite simply our diet should be colourful and varied because the energetic properties nourish different organs in our bodies.

Combining Foods For Better Digestion

Here are a few handy hints to combining foods, did you know that:

Vegetables contain vitamins that are fat-soluble. To absorb maximum nutrition it’s best to steam them and add olive oil oppose to eating them raw. Reach out for vegetables for your Vitamin A, C, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium and much more.

Tomatoes with soy, these are two antioxidant nutrients and when combined together can regulate prostate cancer!

Leafy greens and vegetables can be combined with lemons, oranges and grapefruit (in a dressing or in the salad). Zinc absorption in vegetables is assisted via Vitamin C in fruit. Good for skin/ acne.

Get Creative

I hope I have encouraged you to look again when visiting a market or passing by a vibrant looking grocers, to try something new and get creative with your food. Liven up your diet with flavours of the world.

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As an Acupuncturist and in working holistically with clients, food plays a vital role in our physical and emotional wellbeing. To find out more on the foods that are right for your body’s constitution get in touch for more information on info@acu-sana.com.

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Author

Kulwinder Onica

“We have forgotten how incredible our bodies are in healing themselves. We are time poor as a society and therefore it’s even more important we our nourishing ourselves; food is our real medicine” Founder of Acu-Sana. “My passion on wellness and understanding the functioning of our bodies has always been part of my journey. I studied Reflexology, Acupressure and then Acupuncture (TCM and Chinese Medicinal Herbs). I qualified in a Post Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture in 2010 from The Open International University of Complimentary Medicine.”