Recommended Ingredients for Each of the Five Elements.

 

Identify Ingredients for Each of the Five Elements by Their Colors!

 

• If you have more A, choose green foods.

Focus on green and yellow vegetables, liver, clams, oysters, hijiki (a type of seaweed), and citrus fruits or other sour foods.

When the liver is weak, the complexion can become bluish-black, and you may feel lethargic during the spring season.

 

• If you have more B, choose red foods.

Tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and watermelons are good options. Bitter foods with diuretic effects like bitter melon and green tea are also beneficial.

When the heart is weak, the complexion can become reddish. You may be sensitive to temperature changes, so even in summer, carry a cardigan or similar garment to wear when you feel cold.

 

• If you have more C, choose yellow foods.

Pumpkins, corn, sweet potatoes, and other yellow foods are good choices, along with sweet foods like honey and fruits.

Artificial sweeteners are not recommended at all.

When the stomach is weak, the complexion can appear yellowish. You are prone to feeling unwell during seasonal changes or the rainy season, so try to relax.

 

• If you have more D, choose white foods.

White foods like white leeks, white sesame seeds, potatoes, and apples are beneficial. Spicy foods like chili peppers and leeks are also recommended.

When the lungs are weak, the complexion can become pale blue. You may catch colds easily or feel unwell in the fall. Weak lungs can also lead to a tendency for allergies.

 

• If you have more E, choose black foods.

Black sesame seeds, black beans, seaweed, and hijiki are good options. Purple foods like purple onions and purple cabbage also count as black foods.

Salted foods like pickled plums and salted kombu are recommended.

When the kidneys are weak, the complexion can become dark. You may feel unwell during the winter, so consume warming foods and use seasonings to help.

 

Focus on balancing your diet by incorporating various colors.

An ideal dish could be a salad with green and yellow vegetables, black seaweed, white tofu or leeks, black and white sesame seeds, golden sesame seeds, red bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes. Complement it with a main dish of meat or fish.