Qigong Diet

Qigong is a practice that combines elements of Chinese medicine, philosophy and martial arts. Its basic purpose is to balance life energy, or chi, in the body. Qigong also includes specific dietary practices that are common to other branches of Chinese medicine. Elements of a qigong diet include vegetables, fiber, probiotic foods, thermogenic foods and water.

Vegetables

Qigong practitioners generally follow a diet that is high in fresh vegetables, since they have a higher level of nutrients. Vitamins and other essential nutrients are made of large, complex molecules that are easily broken down by heat. A qigong diet therefore includes raw vegetables and vegetables cooked with methods that require less heat, such as steaming. It should include at least eight servings of fruits and vegetables each day to provide adequate nutrition.

Fiber

Fiber is an important part of a qigong diet because it allows the body to eliminate waste more efficiently. Toxins in the body therefore tend to accumulate when you don’t eat enough fiber, which increases the risk of many diseases and other medical disorders. The minimum recommended amount of dietary fiber for an adult is 25 grams per day, which can be difficult to obtain in a modern diet high in simple sugars and bleached flour. A slice of white bread may contain as little as one gram of fiber and some crackers made from bleached flour contain no fiber. An inexpensive supplement of dietary fiber is readily available in the form of psyllium husks.

Probiotic Foods

Many practitioners of qigong believe that health problems are often caused by systemic yeast infections. This is more likely to occur with foods that are high in sugar and complex carbohydrates, which contain yeast. Probiotic foods are high in beneficial bacteria that eat yeast, thus lowering the level of yeast in your body. Common probiotic foods include kefir, kombucha and yogurt.

Thermogenic Foods

Thermogenic foods increase the body’s metabolic rate, which provides many benefits. Qigong practitioners values these foods for their ability to restore energy levels, and thermogenic foods also provide specific health benefits such as improving appetite, digestion and blood circulation. Thermogenic foods include peppers, which contain capsaicin. This compound provides the spiciness in peppers, which can vary greatly according to the particular variety. Bell peppers contain virtually no capsaicin, while jalapenos and cayenne are considered moderately hot. Habaneros are some of the hottest peppers commonly available. Additional thermogenic foods include black pepper and mustard.

Tea

Tea is naturally thermogenic, and a common part of many qigong diets. Green and white teas are not fermented and are therefore the most thermogenic. Black tea requires a significant amount of fermentation and is less thermogenic than other types of tea. Yerba mate is a type of tea made in South America that contains caffeine. Its proponents believe that yerba mate provides the same energizing effects as regular tea without the loss of energy that occurs afterwards.

Water

Water is an important part of a qigong diet due to its ability to increase your energy level. Endurance activities require large amounts of water to replace the water lost through perspiration. Mental activities also require water, which provide cushioning and lubrication for the brain. Water can also alleviate headaches that are caused by dehydration. Adults should drink at least eight glasses of water per day, not counting the water lost through exercise.

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