"Omnivores, Gourmet Too" —— The Balance Between Complexity and Precision
The human body requires a variety of nutrients. From the perspective of human evolutionary history, a wide range of food sources is necessary to meet the needs of nutritional balance. Although the types of food in daily diets are limited, in real life, the varieties of grains, vegetables (vegetable products), fruits (fruit products), and wild natural plants that humans consume are infinite. A diet that is overly simplified and seeks excessive refinement can be more harmful than beneficial, especially detrimental to growth and development. A preference for refined foods can easily lead to deficiencies in trace elements such as iron (iron products), zinc, iodine, mineral elements like calcium (calcium products), and certain vitamins (vitamin products), as well as an excess of some nutrients. Therefore, beyond paying attention to the color, aroma, taste, and shape of food, we should also advocate for the diversification of food sources.
As ancient people said: "An omnivore makes a gourmet!" Renowned nutritionist Professor Li Ruifen once mentioned that to maintain good health, one should eat 25 to 30 different types of food every day, which is quite complex!
"Food Should Be Warm" —— Balancing Temperature in Diet
"The consumption of food should neither be too hot nor too cold," points out the importance of balancing temperature in our diet. "Food should be warm." Consuming too many raw or cold foods can damage the spleen, stomach, and lung qi, causing mild coughs or severe diarrhea. People with weak stomachs due to coldness should avoid raw and cold foods, especially during summer when extra caution is needed. Folk wisdom also emphasizes "Do not rush when hungry, and avoid cold food on an empty stomach." Conversely, food should not be too hot either, as it may scald the stomach and throat. Reports indicate that in high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer in North China, residents have a habit of drinking hot water and eating hot porridge. Therefore, the ancient medical expert Sun Simiao pointed out in *Qianjin Yifang*: "Hot food harms the bones, cold food harms the lungs; food should not be so hot as to burn the lips or so cold as to chill the teeth." Thus, attention should be paid to maintaining a balance between cold and hot foods in the diet.
"Refrain from Movement Before Eating, Avoid Stagnation After Eating" —— Balance of Activity and Rest Before and After Meals
Maintaining a balance between activity and rest before and after meals is equally important. This is because the various foods and nutrients consumed daily must be balanced with the body's energy expenditure. In the *Analects* chapter *Xiangdang*, it says: "Do not talk while eating, and do not speak while sleeping." This shows that the ancients believed one should remain calm and focused before and during meals, avoiding distractions or loud discussions, which aids digestion. The ancients also stated: "Eating and then lying down leads to undigested food accumulation, which can cause a hundred diseases." Medical and dietary classics state that "lying down immediately after eating can lead to lung qi problems, headaches, and internal stagnation, due to blocked circulation and stagnant blood and qi." Therefore, it is advisable to engage in some light activity after meals. As the saying goes, "A hundred steps after a meal can help you live to ninety-nine," indicating that a leisurely walk after eating helps promote digestion.