| First of all - why increase your Chi? What are the | | | | 80% Rule: For optimal Chi, eat until you are 80% |
| benefits of having healthy, free flowing Chi? Chi is | | | | full. Too much food can disorder Chi, not enough |
| necessary for life. It's what gives you your spark | | | | food weakens your Chi. |
| and keeps you firing on all cylinders. To be | | | | Balance of Flavors: Ensure that your meals contain |
| healthy, your Chi must be plentiful and circulate | | | | a combination of the five flavors; sweet, sour, |
| easily. If your Chi is weak or becomes blocked, | | | | bitter, spicy and salty. Each flavor has a certain |
| problems will arise. So it makes sense to | | | | effect on your body, so it's important to ensure |
| strengthen your Chi and work on improving its | | | | that they are balanced. |
| circulation through diet, Chi exercises, your | | | | Hydration: Water is vital for life and for the |
| environment and your thoughts. | | | | creation of Chi, so make sure you replenish this |
| All living things carry Chi energy. This includes the | | | | daily. |
| food you eat. The following Chi food principles can | | | | Balance Yin & Yang: All life on earth balances |
| guide you towards a diet that restores your | | | | two complementary and opposite natural forces: |
| body's natural, self-healing abilities by increasing | | | | expansion and contraction or yin and yang. |
| your Chi. | | | | Contraction holds our bodies together while |
| Organically Grown: Eat fresh organic locally grown | | | | expansive forces enable us to breathe, move |
| produce, as these are very high in natural Chi. | | | | around, think and feel. To stay in good health your |
| In Season: Eat according to the season. In winter | | | | body needs to keep both forces in balance. To do |
| eat more pressure-cooked grains, roots and | | | | this you need to eat a balance of both expansive |
| hearty soups, while in summer cook less and eat | | | | and contractive foods. |
| more salads. The Chi in food is affected by the | | | | If you feel heavy, slow, hot, tense, sluggish, |
| seasons, so you want your food to support the | | | | constipated, frustrated, irritable or too intense, |
| Chi around you. | | | | you need to eat more Yin or expansive food |
| Natural: Avoid unrefined processed high-stress | | | | such as fruit, honey, milk, yogurt, salads, |
| foods containing preservatives, artificial colors and | | | | tomatoes, potatoes and vegetables. |
| flavors that delete Chi. | | | | If you have sweet cravings, energy bursts |
| Locally Grown: If grown locally and in season the | | | | followed by fatigue, cold hands and feet, no will |
| nature of the food's Chi should be in tune with the | | | | power, feel moody, dreamy, spaced out or |
| Chi of the local environment and is more likely to | | | | confused, irregular bowels, recurring colds and |
| meet the body's needs. | | | | infections, you need to eat more Yang or |
| Raised in the Wild: When possible choose meats, | | | | contractive foods such as cheese, eggs, meat, |
| poultry and fish that has been raised in the wild as | | | | nuts and tuna. |
| this means that their Chi will be high. | | | | By following these simple, yet powerful tips, you |
| Mood: In order to utilize the Chi in your food, | | | | can increase your energy and improve your |
| make sure you are relaxed when eating. | | | | health by facilitating your Chi. |