I can heal myself. 23. Five color foods
In order to keep our five organs and six organs healthy, it is good to eat a variety of foods with five colors or five tastes. The biggest characteristic of Korean food is that it is based on the five colors. For example, kimchi has five colors: white cabbage, blue-green onion or cabbage leaves, red pepper powder, yellow ginger, and various black salted fish. Buckwheat has blue leaves, white flowers, red stems, black fruits, and yellow roots. So, there is a popular belief that if you eat jelly made from buckwheat, you will become prettier and have a son. In addition, bibimbap, Gujeolpan, Sinseonro, five-colored rice cakes, traditional Korean snacks, dasik, japchae, and five-colored toppings for white noodle soup are also available in five colors.
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has revealed five colored foods to prevent cancer. These are vegetables and fruits containing red, yellow, green, purple, and white substances called ‘phytochemicals’, which are the five colors of Oriental medicine. The concept of food and its efficacy are almost identical. Phytochemicals are chemical substances that plants produce to fight against pests and viruses. They are found in large quantities in most vegetables, fruits, beans, teas, and nuts, and have detoxifying, immune-boosting, hormone-regulating, and anti-viral effects. The anti-cancer diet through natural remedies and the Gerson therapy diet do not deviate from this, but when used as a therapeutic diet, they are sometimes boiled to consume large amounts.
Our ancestors have already been able to easily tell whether something suited their body or not by just looking at the color and taste thousands of years ago, and if you understand the energy of each color mentioned above, you can easily remember it. If you feel lethargic and tired often, green foods are good for your liver. If you feel anxious and nervous, red foods nourish your heart. If you have a poor digestive system, yellow foods strengthen the spleen and stomach functions. If you cough frequently or have a poor respiratory system, eat green foods. If you can’t, it’s a good idea to eat a little more white food, which regulates the lungs and colon, and black food, which strengthens the kidneys and reproductive system if you feel aging or have problems with the gynecological system, depending on how you feel.
Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic