In Chinese dietetics, every food possesses an energetic temperature that profoundly influences our body. Unlike physical temperature, this property determines how the food acts on our internal balance. To better understand the fundamental principles of Chinese dietetics, see our complete guide to diet in Chinese medicine. Discover how to use this millennia-old wisdom to optimise your diet according to your specific needs.
Understanding the Energetic Temperature of Foods
The difference from physical temperature
In Chinese dietetics, the notion of energetic temperature is fundamental and differs radically from the physical temperature we perceive. This intrinsic property determines how the food influences our body after digestion and assimilation. For example, a chilli is still considered to have a hot nature even when eaten cold, while a watermelon retains its refreshing nature even at room temperature. This distinction is crucial for understanding how foods interact with our internal balance.
Did you know?
The energetic temperature of a food directly influences our Qi (vital energy) and our internal Yin-Yang balance. This property is determined by several factors including the colour, flavour, shape and even the growing environment of the food.
The 5 thermal natures explained in detail
Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies foods into five distinct thermal categories, each having specific effects on the body:
- Cold (Han): These foods cool the body deeply and are particularly useful in cases of heat excess, inflammation or agitation. Examples: tomato, cucumber, watermelon, seaweed, salt, white sugar.
- Cool (Liang): Less extreme than cold foods, they cool moderately. They are ideal for people of hot nature or during hot seasons. Examples: wheat, barley, spinach, apple, pear, mint.
- Neutral (Ping): These foods balance and nourish without significantly influencing body temperature. They form the basis of a balanced diet. Examples: rice, carrot, potato, cabbage, corn, beef, eggs.
- Warm (Wen): Slightly warming, these foods stimulate circulation and metabolism. They are beneficial for people who feel cold or during moderate cold weather. Examples: chicken, cherry, peach, hazelnut, rosemary, thyme.
- Hot (Re): These foods intensely warm the body. They are precious for combating excessive cold but must be used in moderation. Examples: chilli, cinnamon, dried ginger, pepper, alcohol, lamb.
Understanding these categories makes it possible to adapt one’s diet not only according to the seasons, but also to one’s state of health and personal constitution. For example, a person of cold nature will benefit more from warm or hot foods, while a person of hot nature should favour cool or cold foods.
Complete Classification: Practical Tables
To help you better understand and apply these principles, here is a detailed classification of foods according to their thermal nature. These tables will serve as a reference for composing balanced meals according to your specific needs.
Hot foods (to favour in cold weather or for people who feel the cold)
| Food | Nature | Benefits | Contraindications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang) | Hot | Warms the stomach, dispels cold, anti-nausea, promotes sweating | Heat excess, hypertension, dry mouth |
| Cinnamon (Rou Gui) | Very hot | Stimulates Kidney Yang, improves circulation, soothes joint pain | Fever, inflammation, hypertension, pregnancy |
| Black pepper (Hu Jiao) | Hot | Warms the stomach, dispels cold, aids digestion | Ulcers, haemorrhoids, digestive inflammation |
| Clove (Ding Xiang) | Very hot | Warms the middle burner, calms abdominal pain | Stomach heat, fever, dryness |
| Beef (Niu Rou) | Warm | Tonifies Qi and Blood, strengthens muscles | Heat excess, high cholesterol |
Cold and refreshing foods (to favour in hot weather or for people of hot nature)
| Food | Nature | Benefits | Contraindications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cucumber (Huang Gua) | Cool | Refreshes, clears heat, diuretic, hydrates | Digestive weakness, feeling cold, diarrhoea |
| Watermelon (Xi Gua) | Cold | Quenches thirst, clears summer heat, diuretic | Bloating, feeling cold, weak digestion |
| Tomato (Fan Qie) | Cold | Quenches thirst, promotes production of body fluids | Joint pain aggravated by cold |
| Spinach (Bo Cai) | Cool | Nourishes blood, moistens intestines, rich in iron | Kidney stones (oxalates), feeling cold |
| Grapefruit (You Zi) | Cool | Cools the liver, aids fat digestion | Medications (possible interactions) |
Neutral foods (the universal balancers)
Neutral-nature foods form the basis of a balanced diet in TCM. They can be eaten by everyone, whatever the season or constitution, because they nourish without disturbing the internal thermal balance. Here are the main neutral foods and their properties:
| Food | Properties | Specific benefits |
|---|---|---|
| White rice (Mi) | Neutral, slightly cool | Tonifies Qi, harmonises the stomach, easy to digest |
| Carrot (Hu Luo Bo) | Neutral, slightly warm | Tonifies the spleen, improves eyesight, nourishes the liver |
| Cabbage (Bai Cai) | Neutral, slightly cool | Moistens the lungs, aids digestion, anti-inflammatory |
| Potato (Tu Dou) | Neutral | Tonifies the spleen, eliminates toxins, alkalising |
| Corn (Yu Mi) | Neutral | Tonifies the spleen, diuretic, regulates blood sugar |
These neutral foods should represent about 40% of your daily diet, supplemented by slightly warm or cool foods according to the season and your constitution. They provide stable, lasting energy without disturbing your internal balance.
How to Adapt Your Diet to Your Constitution
Chinese medicine considers that every individual possesses a unique constitution, the result of heredity and lifestyle. Identifying your constitution type is essential for optimally adapting your diet. Here is how to proceed:
Cold constitution (weak Yang): a warming strategy
If you frequently show these signs: feeling cold, chronic fatigue, cold extremities, lack of energy, slow digestion, preference for hot drinks, you probably have a cold-type constitution (Yang deficiency). Here is how to adapt your diet:
Foods to favour:
- Warming proteins: Lamb, chicken, prawns, nuts (cashews, hazelnuts), sunflower seeds
- Cereals and pulses: Buckwheat, quinoa, oats, red lentils, adzuki beans
- Vegetables: Carrot, leek, onion, garlic, shallot, butternut squash, sweet potato
- Spices and herbs: Fresh ginger, cinnamon, clove, star anise, pepper, rosemary, thyme
- Cooking methods: Braising, oven, soup, stew, grilling
Example of a typical day:
Breakfast: Oat porridge with cinnamon, nuts and honey + fresh ginger infusion
Lunch: Miso soup with tofu, carrots and shiitake mushrooms + brown rice with sesame seeds
Snack: Almond-stuffed dates + ginseng tea
Dinner: Salmon fillet with herbs, roasted sweet potato and garlic-sautéed spinach
Hot constitution (weak Yin): a cooling strategy
If you frequently show these signs: sensation of heat, easy sweating, intense thirst, dry skin, agitation, preference for cold drinks, you probably have a hot-type constitution (Yin deficiency). Here is how to adapt your diet:
Foods to favour:
- Cooling proteins: Duck, pork, chicken breast, tofu, white fish, seafood
- Cereals and pulses: Barley, spelt, wheat, chickpeas, mung beans
- Vegetables: Cucumber, courgette, aubergine, spinach, bamboo shoots, black mushrooms
- Fruits: Pear, apple, watermelon, melon, grapefruit, lemon
- Preparation methods: Gentle steaming, raw (in moderation), boiling, gentle braising
Example of a typical day:
Breakfast: Pear and mint smoothie with soaked oats + light green tea
Lunch: Quinoa salad with roasted vegetables and lemon dressing + steamed chicken breast with herbs
Snack: Cinnamon apple compote + soaked almonds
Dinner: Steamed sea bass fillet with basmati rice and wok-sautéed vegetables (courgette, pepper, spring onion)
Practical tip
Most people have a mixed constitution, with more or less marked imbalances. Observe how your body reacts to different foods and progressively adjust your diet. For a more personalised approach, discover how to create a nutritional meal plan adapted to your profile. If in doubt, consult a Chinese medicine practitioner for a precise assessment of your constitution.
Adapting Your Diet to the Seasons and Life Circumstances
Chinese medicine places great importance on harmonising our diet with natural cycles. Here is how to adapt your diet throughout the year and in different life situations:
Detailed seasonal adjustments
Spring (Wood element)
Energy: Rising Yang, renewal
Organs concerned: Liver and Gallbladder
Foods to favour: Young shoots, green vegetables (asparagus, spinach, dandelion), slightly sour flavours (lemon, cider vinegar), sprouted cereals
Advice: Progressively lighten the diet after winter, favour quick cooking (stir-fries, steaming), limit heavy fats
Summer (Fire element)
Energy: Maximum Yang, expansion
Organs concerned: Heart and Small Intestine
Foods to favour: Juicy fruits (watermelon, melon, peach), watery vegetables (cucumber, courgette), salads, mint, coriander
Advice: Eat light, favour raw food (in moderation), hydrate with room-temperature infusions
Autumn (Metal element)
Energy: Descending Yang, gathering
Organs concerned: Lung and Large Intestine
Foods to favour: Root vegetables (carrot, turnip, parsnip), pears, brown rice, almonds, fragrant mushrooms
Advice: Progressively introduce more nourishing foods, favour mild pungent flavours (onion, leek, radish)
Winter (Water element)
Energy: Maximum Yin, conservation
Organs concerned: Kidneys and Bladder
Foods to favour: Pulses (black beans, lentils), nuts, seeds, seaweed, bone broths, chestnuts
Advice: Long, gentle cooking (soups, stews), use warming spices, limit raw and cold foods
Adapting your diet to life circumstances
For specific advice on anti-inflammatory eating according to TCM, see our complete guide to the anti-inflammatory meal plan.
In case of febrile illness or inflammation
Favour refreshing, easy-to-digest foods:
- Light vegetable broths (celery, courgette, leek)
- White rice boiled in water with a little salt
- Unsweetened apple or pear compote
- Mint or chrysanthemum infusions
Avoid: dairy products, meats, fatty and sweet foods that overload digestion
Periods of stress or overwork
Choose foods that nourish Yin and calm the Spirit (Shen):
- Black sesame seeds, walnuts, almonds
- Leafy green vegetables (spinach, chard, kale)
- Oily fish rich in omega-3 (sardine, mackerel, wild salmon)
- Orange blossom or linden infusions
Convalescence or chronic fatigue
Favour tonifying, easy-to-assimilate foods:
- Homemade bone broths rich in minerals
- Glutinous rice, sweet potato, butternut squash
- Dates, figs, raisins
- Ginseng or astragalus as a decoction (after a practitioner’s advice)
Practical tip
For a gentle transition between seasons, start progressively introducing the foods of the coming season 2 to 3 weeks before the official change. This allows your body to adapt smoothly to the new seasonal energies.
Common Mistakes and Practical Solutions
Avoid the classic pitfalls by reading our article on the 5 fatal mistakes in TCM diet to avoid at all costs.
TO DO
- Listen to your body’s signals
- Introduce changes progressively
- Take the season into account
TO AVOID
- Completely removing a food category
- Following rigid rules without listening to how you feel
- Neglecting food preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat cold food in winter according to TCM?
Yes, but in moderation. Cold foods can be balanced with warming spices such as ginger or cinnamon.
How do you know if a food suits you?
Observe how you feel 1 to 2 hours after eating it. Stable energy and easy digestion are good indicators.
Do hot foods necessarily make you gain weight?
No, energetic temperature is not linked to calories. A hot food such as chilli can even promote metabolism.
To go further
Understanding the energetic temperatures of foods is a powerful key to a diet truly adapted to your needs. Experiment with these principles progressively and observe the effects on your wellbeing.
For a personalised approach, consult a Chinese medicine practitioner who can assess your constitution and your specific imbalances.
Frequently asked questions
Which foods have a hot nature in TCM?
Hot-nature foods (热 Rè) include ginger, cinnamon, pepper, mutton, warm wine and spices. They tonify Yang, warm the Centre and disperse internal Cold.
Which foods have a cold nature in TCM?
Cold-nature foods (寒 Hán) include watermelon, cucumber, seaweed, crab and mint. They nourish Yin, clarify Heat and are contraindicated in cases of Spleen Yang deficiency.
How do you balance hot and cold foods?
Balance depends on your constitution and the season. In winter, increase warm and hot foods. In summer, add more cool foods. A person of Yang constitution will consume more cool foods, and vice versa.
Are raw foods discouraged in TCM?
TCM recommends limiting raw and cold foods because they exhaust Spleen Qi (脾气 Pí Qì) and require more digestive energy. Light cooking (steaming, stir-frying) preserves nutrients and aids digestion.
Can a food’s thermal nature change with cooking?
Yes, cooking modifies the thermal nature. For example, raw tomato is cool but becomes warm when cooked. Long cooking methods (stewing) warm foods, while raw vegetables remain cool.
Sources and references
This article draws on the following sources:
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: Huangdi Neijing (黄帝内经), the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, founding text of TCM
- Chinese dietetics: Bencao Gangmu (本草纲目), Compendium of Materia Medica by Li Shizhen (1518-1593)
- Modern nutrition: Recommended nutritional intakes for the population, national food safety agencies
- Mental health: peer-reviewed studies published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Author: Yin Shi, practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and energetic dietetics. The information in this article is provided for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. In case of depressive disorder, consult a qualified health professional.
To go further
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