In Chinese philosophy, all foods have a particular action on the body. I kid with my patients that there is usually a point, an herb, or a food for “that.” (Just like the joke, “there’s an app for that.”) Anyway, with this belief, the Chinese have been able to utilize food as medicine for thousands of years! In fact, when someone gets ill, the first line of defense is food! Intentionally combining foods can help you get the most out of them.
For example: spinach Strengthens the Liver and Builds Liver Blood, but if you are feeling irritable, too much spinach may increase your anger. So, if you balance the spinach with some cooling tofu, you can forget about being a grump. Just think about the last time you went to a Japanese restaurant…they served you sushi with ginger, knowing that raw fish is cold and ginger is hot, this method balances their natures and may even prevent you from getting food poisoning.