The seasons and the five elements. See how easily you can use 5 element theory to eat optimally. The Five Element Diet: Healthy Eating in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Foods are grouped with an element based primarily on flavour.
They are also classed as either Yin or Yang based on whether a food is 'cooling' or 'warming', and style of cooking. Flavours of Five Element Theory There are traditionally five flavours, each associated with one of the traditional five elements Sour is associated with WoodBitter is associated with FireSweet is associated with EarthStrong/Pungent (think of the 'strong' flavour of a good chicken broth) is associated with MetalSalty is associated with WaterA healthy diet consists of a balance of these flavours. TCM Nutrition - Five Element Theory.
The eastern medical theory of the five elements provides a framework which aids one in making food choices that will be most beneficial to a person at a given time.
To understand how the theory relates to nutrition, one must first understand the basic categorizations of the five elements. Essentially, there are five elements, or factors, which have an inter-relationship which must be kept in balance. The Five Elements are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The chart below describes some of the common categorizations which fall under each element: