Eating under the CEAM framework

Eating under the CEAM framework.

​Hello and welcome to my podcast, ancient Wisdom Modern Health. Reaching the balance within This is where we get to explore the ancient practice of classical East Asian Medicine and it's applicability to modern day health issues. I'm your host, Dr. Ian, and I'm a doctor of Chinese medicine with degrees in human biology and Chinese medicine.

As well as a postgraduate diploma in classical East Asian medicine. Now, I have been treating people in regional Australia with East Asian Medicine over 20 years, and I've helped them to see their symptoms in a new way through the lens that is classical East Asian Medicine with its warm, rich, insightful, functional, and practical ways with its use of [00:01:00] lifestyle.

Diet combined with herbal medicine and acupuncture, so was to enable you to reach the balance within. Now, I assume that if you've found me here, then you are someone who is looking for some answers, answers to your health, issues that make sense, answers that give you an understanding, a clarity, and allow you to have control of your health problems.

And also provide practical solutions that can you, your own health champion. And I also understand that you are somebody who is looking for some ancient wisdom, going to give you an understanding of your modern health issues and that can show you how to reach the balance within. Classical East Asian medicine can provide that different lens with which to see the issues [00:02:00] of women's health, menopause, dietary issues, stress, sleep issues, seasonal awareness, men's health or pain management, and it's through this lens that you can achieve the balance within.

So please come join me as we now travel through the journey that is ancient wisdom of classical East Asian medicine and discover how it can have a positive impact on your modern life and bring your health back to balance. Let's explore that ancient wisdom and reach the balance within together. Now it is important, however, for you to understand that the information covered in these podcasts is not to be taken or used for diagnostic purposes.

It is for general information only, [00:03:00] and as a general guide, if these podcasts raise any health issues that are of concern to you, you need to have a full and proper consult with your appropriate healthcare professional. If you would like to become a member of the SIA Health Balance community, then please go to the website sia.com au, and click the join here button and file prompts.

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Hello, and welcome back to another episode of Ancient Wisdom Modern Health, and I'm Dr. Ian. And today I'm going to talk to you about something we all have to do every day, multiple times a day. And yet it is often causes such confusion, frustration, and possibly guilt. I'm talking about food or more precisely eating.

Now before we dive in, let me make one thing abundantly clearly right from the start. This is not a diet, it is not about restriction or perfection. What I'm trying to share here today is a way of eating that aligns with the classically stage in medicine framework, and that's a framework and it's not [00:05:00] a formula because you see within classical East Asian medicine.

There is no such thing as a fixed diet. What you need is to eat depending on you, on your constitution and your current health position, even the season of the year or the season of your life. So what I'm saying is what worked for you when you were 20 probably won't work as well when you're in your fifties.

And what nourishes you during summer might not serve you so well in the depths of winter. So today we'll explore a few simple, yet profound principles that guide balanced eating in the classical Asian medicine approach.

Now I call them the three pillars of eating, and they're colorful, local and seasonal. [00:06:00] Let's begin with color. I believe nature's incredibly clever 'cause it gives you color and each color in food corresponds to a different group of nutrients. So different concentrations of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and so on.

So literally, when we say eat a rainbow, we mean it quite literally. A broad range of colors and shades of color. This variety helps to ensure that you are covering all your nutritional bases without needing to overthink it. And of course it is. It's very visually appealing. A colorful plate invites encourages your appetite and signals vitality.

It's nature's way of saying this stuff's pretty good for you.

Next, [00:07:00] let's talk about local. Now, eating local isn't just about supporting farmers' markets or reducing food miles, though both of those things are exceptionally important. What I'm talking about is the biology I. See foods growing in your local, local climate are the ones most in tune with your body's needs.

As an example, tropical fruits, they're cooling and moistening, and they're perfect for tropical bodies in a tropical climate, but perhaps not ideal in the middle of a Tasmanian winter. Likewise, root vegetables and hardy greens suit colder environments because they're grounding, they're warming and supportive.

And that brings me around to , the seasonal pillar. Now, [00:08:00] nature provides generally what we need when we need it. Again, let's take an example. Let's think about a watermelon. Watermelon is cooling, hydrating and full of quick sugars. It's a beautiful summer food, but in winter is it so good?

'cause it can be overwhelming to the digestion. It can cool the center overly and contributes to what we call dampness and possibly fatigue. So by eating with the seasons. We tend to harmonize with the world, and that's what's at the heart of classical East Asian.

Okay, so now I want to talk briefly about some foods that may tend to be problematic. Problematic for many people, not everybody, and particularly in the modern world. [00:09:00] Now, first cab off the rank. The first thing I will talk about is processed sugars. Processed sugars are highly addictive and they give a quick burst of energy, which is why they become addictive, because, but that's also then followed by a very steep crash.

And that crash leads to you wanting more. So there's the addiction.

That's because processed sugars are what we call empty calories. That is their high end energy and lower nutrition. They don't sustain us. They live us wanting more. Whereas in contrast, healthy fats and oils provide a more steady, nourishing release of energy.

Next, next cap off the rank dairy. Look, here's an interesting fact. Humans are the only species that [00:10:00] continues to consume milk after weaning. And that's from another animal. Notice. Now there's enough strong scientific evidence that we don't, that we need. There's, sorry. There is no strong scientific evidence that we need dairy to, to thrive or survive.

And in fact, many adults become a lactose intolerant with. Now, that doesn't mean to say you can't enjoy dairy, you just need to understand that it may be irritating to your digestion and it isn't essential for your health. Austin gluten, we're seeing more and more people with digestive , discomfort, bloating, fatigue, and even foggy thinking after eating gluten containing.

Foods. Now, the evidence [00:11:00] both anecdotal and scientific is mounted and in classical East Asian medicine terms, gluten and some similar, hard to digest foods can burden the earth element, and that's the spleen and stomach systems. And once they're burdened because they're central to digestion. This system becomes taxed and therefore it struggles to do its job.

And that can lead to what we call and its job. Sorry, is this what we call the separating the clear from the turd. So if it doesn't do this properly, this simply means that you have less energy and the result Well, we would see dams, obstruction. And that leads to slower repair and they're not ideal things to have when you're trying to heal or build your vitality.[00:12:00]

What's the goal of eating within this framework? We want to have foods that give us as much energy as possible for as little cost from the body as possible. Think of it like budgeting your chew. Now when you are well and balanced, of course you can afford to be a bit indulgent in your energetic foods.

Uh, but that should only be now and then, however, when you run down or you're out of balance, you want foods that are easy to digest and deeply nourishing. And this is where we get to things like slow cooked, warm meals. Soups and stews and cones and soup is one of the easiest foods for the body to digest.

However, on the flip side, raw salads or large pieces of red meat [00:13:00] require far more energy to break them down. Now, I'm not saying they're bad, but they can be taxing, and particularly if you are not well or in a colder weather. Your body doesn't need to spend that much work, that much energy on getting your food.

And let's be honest, it's red meat. It slows the digestion and can s slow the bowel bowels down. So if you're going to have it, make sure it's tender and warming, steward or casserole, even gr not grilled. I'm definitely not cold.

Now having said all this, if this has tweaked any interest or piqued some curiosity and you'd like to dive deeper into how you can apply any of these ideas in your own life, including food lists, meals, ideas, seasonal tips, do head over to the [00:14:00] aya.com au website and explore members area. And remember, eating is not about rules.

It's about listening to your body, listening to the seasons, and listening to what truly nourishes you. As always, thank you for joining me and tuning in, and I look forward to seeing you next time.