Everything in Traditional Chinese Medicine deals with balance – balance of qi, blood, yin and yang. I think diet is one of the most important aspects for creating health. There are so many books available that it can be hard for people to pick and choose what is right for them. In TCM we talk about diet that is specific to the problem that is being addressed, so each person will be encouraged to eat foods that are directly related to their health issue.

For people with poor memory we have to look at which of the conditions we are addressing. If there is dampness caused by spleen qi deficiency then we suggest cutting out raw, cold, food and drink. You can think of the spleen like a sponge. It collects fluids and nutrients, and squeezes them out to nourish the body. If the spleen qi is weak, "the sponge" will not have the strength to distribute the nutrients and will instead become waterlogged. Cold drinks, and raw or greasy foods weaken the spleen’s ability to do its job properly and further aggravate the problem. I see many of my students suffer from weak spleen qi because they burn the candle at both ends while grabbing fast food due to lack of time or finances.

On the other hand, eating lots of cooked vegetables, especially yellow ones which nourish the spleen – along with wild fish and organic chicken – will help to strengthen the spleen. If there is blood deficiency it is important to try to eat more fish and chicken. There also should be protein, like nuts, eggs, beans, or chia seeds with every meal which will cut down on sugar cravings so prevalent with spleen weakness.

As women lose blood every month with their menstrual cycle it is more important for them to eat organic chicken and fish, if possible, to strengthen the blood. As the spleen makes blood to nourish the body, a blood deficiency will affect the heart causing palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, or restlessness. So, in this case, taking care of spleen takes care of the heart.

Overwork and excessive sexual activity weaken the kidneys and, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the kidneys support all the organs and a weak kidney will eventually have a negative impact on the health of the other organs.