23. I Heal My Own Body : The Five-Colored Foods

For balanced health of our five viscera and six bowels, it is good to consume foods of five colors or five flavors evenly. A major characteristic of Korean cuisine is its foundation on the five cardinal colors. For example, kimchi contains white napa cabbage, blue-green scallion or cabbage leaves, red chili powder, yellow ginger, and black fermented seafood, completing the five colors. Buckwheat leaves are blue-green, flowers white, stems red, fruits black, and roots yellow. There is a folk belief that eating buckwheat jelly can make one more beautiful and bear a son. Other traditional dishes such as bibimbap, gujeolpan, sinseollo, five-colored rice cakes, traditional sweets, dasik, japchae, and white noodle soups with five-colored toppings also incorporate these colors.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has published five-colored foods for cancer prevention, including red, yellow, green, purple, and white vegetables and fruits rich in phytochemicals. This concept aligns closely with the traditional herbal medicine concept of five-colored foods and their benefits. Phytochemicals are compounds produced by plants to defend against pests and viruses, found abundantly in vegetables, fruits, legumes, teas, and nuts, and have detoxifying, immune-boosting, hormone-regulating, and antiviral effects. Natural cancer diets and Gerson therapy diets also emphasize these foods, sometimes consumed boiled in large quantities for treatment.

Our ancestors could easily distinguish which colors and flavors suited their bodies by understanding the five colors’ energies. If feeling sluggish or frequently tired, consume more green foods beneficial for the liver; if anxious or sensitive, increase red foods that support the heart; if digestion is poor, eat yellow foods that strengthen the spleen and stomach; if coughing or respiratory problems occur, eat white foods to regulate lung and large intestine function; and if aging signs or gynecological issues arise, consume black foods to nourish kidneys and reproductive systems. Adjusting intake according to your condition promotes balanced health.

Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic