As we embark on the beginning of the cold weather months, a very broad recommendation from Chinese medicine practitioners is to eat more meat.
First let’s get out of the way the definition of “meat,” which many mistake as synonymous with “beef.”
Chicken is meat. Pork is meat. Even fish… scientifically qualifies as MEAT! Hence the term “pescatarian” to distinguish from vegetarians.
Generally, we recommend women consume more meat than men, due of course to the lifetime of blood and subsequent nutrient loss. Pregnant and post-partum women’s bodies have even greater demand. Older people should eat more than younger people due to more need for nutrient supplementation, and active people more than inactive people. When a sedentary person consumes too much (animal) protein it can potentially harm the kidneys and/or be converted into sugars in the body.
Culturally, in modern society we tend to observe many of the opposite behaviors, which might partially explain why we lead all first world countries in chronic illness. Men and younger people gravitate more to animal protein than women and older people, respectively. Mostly unknowingly, we end up potentiating instead of mitigating our patterns’ proclivities.
If you want to get really holistic, beyond umbrella recommendations, we can do so, how else, but by observing the tongue and pulse.
If your tongue tends to be puffier, larger, and/or redder than average, we recommend eating less than average amounts of animal protein. Whereas if your tongue tends longer, thinner, dryer, and/or smaller than average, we recommend eating an average to above average amount of animal protein, instead dramatically minimizing carbohydrates.
If the artery in the middle position of your pulse on both wrists is large and excessively strong we might recommend eating less than average amounts. If the same pulse position tends weaker, smaller, or thinner, see above 😊
Food is medicine, and like all medicines, animal protein has the potential to create great benefit or harm. If taken excessively and/or by the wrong person it will cause harm. If taken appropriately by those of us who need it, there is no better source in the world of “qi and blood”—that is organ strength, functional gases, and nutrients.
Everyone needs cooked vegetables, regardless of tongue and pulse. No discussion 😊
