Even in a culture bombarded with new-fangled nutrition advice and health-oriented research, the traditional philosophies can still teach us something about healthy living.
As a health Coach I have studied many different theories, from new age to the ancient, and the one that stands out is the theory of Yin and Yang – the Chinese philosophical belief that everything is opposite but complimentary.
Before this Italian gal gets too deep into the theory of Yin and Yang and how plays out in overall health, let me give a little Ancient history 101.
According to Paul Pritchford, the author of Healing With Whole Foods, the “Yin and Yang principal holds that all objects of phenomena in the universe can be understood as limitless pairs of opposites.”
In other words, the opposites are constantly shifting to find balance. He goes on to explain, “As with any plan, be it financial, family, political or dietary, a structure that does not shift with people’s needs will not be successful in the long run.”
This belief of opposite, yet complimentary forces has been an intergral part in helping my clients overcome stress, understand cravings, and increase energy.
In this balance of Yin and Yang, Yin represents the more feminine qualities of soft, passive ( I know, but it is an ancient theory), receptive and yielding. Yang represents the masculine qualities of hard, strong, active and tight. Here is how they pair up.
Yang / Yin
Heaven Earth
Mind Body
Light Dark
Heat Cold
Warmer personality Cooler personality
Excess Deficiency
Salty Sweet
Positive Negative
Logical Intuitive
Desire filled Complacent
Together, the forces of Yin and Yang make a whole. Neither is more important that the other. The body is always striving to maintain this kind of balance. When your body is in perfect balance you feel great and you are suffering from no physical symptoms.
However, when you are out of balance, you do begin to feel it. Say you are suffering from night sweats, or extreme thirst. This is a sign that the warmer Yang qualities in your body are overtaking the cooler Yin qualities. They are out of balance. To take it to extreme, as this condition perpetuates, the body will continue to become over heated which could result in high blood pressure and or even a stroke.
You can maintain a balance for health by utilizing Yin and Yang and proper nutrition.
We can use the Yin/Yang approach with food to curb cravings, increase our energy, and ward off illness- everything from the common cold to heart disease.
The key is to listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs. The best part is, it is not hard. And it can be fun to use Yin-Yang in your diet. Wednesday, I will show you how.
Sherri Sacconaghi, is a certified health coach who counsels clients one-on-one and through group presentations and a tele-seminar series. For information, go to: www.themissionofnutrition.com
Graphic by: Stock.xchng
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