Culinary, cooking, food and restaurant

Copyright (c) 2009 Kentaro Konika

No trip to China would be complete without getting a real taste of the wealth of foods on offer. Chinese food is famous all around the world, and not without reason. If you’re visiting China you’ll get the opportunity to try one of the world’s most famous cuisines in its traditional way and no one could argue with the fact that it’s also the best way.

If you’re wondering what to expect from traditional Chinese food then forget what you’ve experienced in your own country. The real food of China is so much better that foreign imitations pale in comparison. Many Western dishes have been tailored to meet the available ingredients, or in some cases the true essence of the recipe has been lost over numerous years and translations. Whilst sweet and sour is a popular dish in the West, many Chinese chefs wouldn’t even dream of cooking it. Whilst sweet and sour still exists in China it’s nothing like the sweet and sour that we experience in Western restaurants.

China has a very long history rich with tradition. It is this tradition and history which has given China such a wonderfully rich and diverse cuisine. Whilst civilization in China started at least 7000 years ago records do not date back this far, but what archaeology has shown is that food has always had a central role in the lives of Chinese people. Whilst the food lacked the sophistication of today’s cooking there was already a deep consideration for healthy eating.

The Chinese Dynasties saw a huge range of ideas develop alongside an increasing variety of foods. Trade allowed for many more ingredients to be used and the wealth that such trade led to also gave chefs a chance to develop their skills and make money doing so. The best chefs competed with each other for royal approval, hoping to be appointed as royal chefs. The best dishes created by the chefs combined fine food and health benefits for which they received rich rewards.

Those dishes which became most popular became food that the wealthiest across China dined upon. Over time lodges in which travelers stayed became more and more akin to modern-day restaurants and these made the foods which were originally the preserve of the royal and wealthy Chinese available to all. Thanks to modern transportation regional specialties are available all across China, giving an even greater variety of flavors from the vast Chinese country. Chinese food is not only famous for its flavor but also its names. With dishes such as “Phoenix and Dragon” or “Ants Climbing on Trees” much fun can be had in discovering the legends behind the names over a good meal.

One difficulty many foreigners have with ordering Chinese food is the language barrier. Chinese menus are written in Chinese characters – a notoriously difficult language which takes a long time to learn. If you have Chinese friends it’s worth asking them to translate, but otherwise you can simply point at what other diners are eating and try food in that way.

What is Chinese Food Therapy – Chinese food therapy dates back as early as 2000 BC.Chinese food therapy is a practice of healing using natural foods instead of medications. Chinese food therapy is a modality of traditional Chinese medicine, also known as Chinese Nutrition Therapy. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which is also known as the Niejing, was written around 300 BC is important in forming the basis of Chinese food therapy.
Philosophy of Chinese Food Therapy – The philosophy behind Chinese food therapy is that everything must be balanced. This begins by discovering the polar opposites of foods that are available and combining them for a middle ground. Yin and yang are the philosophy that is used for foods, giving the best combination of elements for health. Yang is known to increase body heat, which will raise the metabolism to process nutrients. Yin then combines with this to decrease the body heat, which will balance the nutrients that are being processed in the metabolism.
Causes of Illnesses – According to Chinese medicine, improper meal and unbalanced diet can be one of the major causes of illness. Not eating balanced and proper meal can lead to a stop in the right energy flow in your body, causing your body to not have the ability to process its nutritional needs correctly. The alternative that is suggested is Chinese food therapy, where there is a balance between the food that you eat and the nutrition that you get.
Treatment Methods – In order for Chinese food therapy to work properly, there has to be an understanding of how your body reacts to specific things. If you are completely balanced, too much of either yin or yang will cause a reaction by your body, allowing you to stay balanced. Everything that your body does, when using Chinese food therapy, will be communicating to you how to use your food and balance it out properly.
The ideas of yin and yang are used in the sphere of food and cooking.Yin foods are believed to decrease the body’s heat (eg. lower the metabolism) whileYang foods are believed to increase the body’s heat (eg. raise the metabolism).So if your body is imbalanced, you can use some foods in order to use the Chinese food therapy correctly. For example, some foods may cause your energy to be lower. You can use roots of foods in order to increase this, which are directly linked to the Yang foods. Ginseng is one popular example that will help to increase circulation and the metabolism. This is one of several examples that can help you to heal and balance naturally.
Benefits of Chinese Food Therapy – So the next time you are ready to eat your meal, make sure that you have both Yin and Yang in combination with each other. Over time, you will notice that the balance of your energy, as well as the various effects of the food makes a difference in how you function. Using Chinese food therapy as a method of health is one of the easiest ways to help chewing in your health.