The Sweet Flavor, The Sugar you Need
Chinese Medicine Theory, Dietary Therapy
January 23rd, 2021
Sugar has a terrible reputation. It’s been condemned by medical studies and doctors so much so that it is feared by many.
This fear has caused a deficiency in humans: a deficiency of sugar or glucose. This deficiency means that your body and brain are not getting enough glucose. As a result, Americans are experiencing symptoms like brain fog, restlessness, depression, an increase in aging, sore muscles, decreased immunity, and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms like bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, and general digestive discomfort to name a few.
Sugar, aka glucose, is one of the best resources created by our planet. So why does it have such a bad reputation?
Why is sugar bad?
There are two types of sugar. The first types of sugar are those that are artificially made in a lab. The second types of sugar are natural sugars–those made by plants and grown by the earth.
Artificially made, refined sugars contain sucralose, a diversity of the chlorine molecule. When you consume refined sugar, you are consuming one of the most harmful chemicals on the periodic table, chlorine.
Scientists have artificial sugar down to a craft. They have created a substance that is highly addictive and that cannot be broken down by the body. This is one reason why major health concerns regarding blood pressure, diabetes, and heart health are on the rise. It’s literally poison to your body.
Just because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it’s safe,
doesn’t mean that it actually is.
Artificial and refined sugars are six hundred times sweeter than naturally occurring sugars. Those that have created and continue to manipulate artificial and refined sugars have made an addictive substance. This addictive substance is extremely harmful to your body and brain.
For the love of yourself, and your health, don’t consume it. Ever.
Sugar is sneaky and they will sneak in wherever they can.
The list of harmful refined sugars is far and wide. Use the list below for reference.
Take this sugar cheat sheet with you to the grocery, memorize the natural “good” sweeteners, and only buy foods that contain those.
When it comes to sugar, it’s everywhere, which is why we always, always need to be reading the ingredient and “nutrtion” labels.
The Sunny side of sugar
Glucose, also known as sugar, is a naturally occurring substance made by plants. It can be found in many different types of root vegetables, fruits and is made by bees and trees. This type of glucose is not to be feared.
We need glucose. Our brain is at least 60% glucose.
Does all that surprise you? If you don’t believe me, check out this study published by the national institute of health.
Glucose for the brain: the role of glucose in physiological and pathological brain function.
Our muscles need it too to remain supple and soft. Our digestive system uses glucose to increase our immune system and to protect the digestive tract. Our lungs and skin need it for moisture, and our joints need it for lubrication which prevents deterioration and clicking. Every single cell, organ, and system in our body needs it to function.
Chinese medicine has understood the value of the sweet flavor for thousands of years. As you now learned, its benefits to our body are far and wide. So much so that it is one of the Five Flavors.
The Five Flavors are sweet, salty, sour, pungent/spicy, and bitter.
Benefits of the Glucose and the sweet flavor
How do you feel when you eat something naturally sweet? When I eat the sweet flavor in its natural form, I feel good! I feel happy. Like I just received a warm hug by the sweet flavor.
The sweet flavor is supportive, relaxing and harmonizing to our respiratory system, digestive, nervous system, and our muscular system. It is a yin substance. Yin is soft, gentle, and smooth.
Chinese medicine diagnostically relates the sweet flavor to our Spleen and Stomach organs. These organs are our earth element and are the supportive foundation for all other organs. When we consume the sweet flavor, all other organs reap the benefits.
“During the season between summer and autumn, late summer, the fruits ripen and turn yellow. When they ripen they taste sweet and can nourish spleen qi. The spleen qi is then able to nourish the muscles and flesh,” The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine.
The sweet flavor supports us by not only providing glucose but also necessary trace minerals. Read more about trace minerals in my salty post. The sweet flavor keeps muscles and bones pliable, toned, and strong. It also coats our nervous system to ensure it fires smoothly. This smooth coating of glucose is what settles restlessness, anxiety, and heart palpitations.
Like a fish out of water, our nervous system needs glucose in order to calm and stabilize our nervous system.
Did this post make you crave the sweet flavor? It did for me!
The sweet flavor is represented by the color yellow and orange in Chinese medicine. Seek out foods that are naturally yellow and orange.
Enjoy the sweet foods listed below and heck, take a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup while you’re at it too!
Buy organic and local as much as possible, especially honey and maple syrup.
Root vegetables: Sweet potatoes, yams, potatoes, squash, carrots, pumpkin
Grains: rice, amaranth, millet, corn, oats
Fresh and dried fruits, honey, maple syrup, molasses
I hope that you enjoy learning about the sweet flavor. Most importantly, I hope that it encourages you take action and eat more of the sweet flavor. Your brain and body will love you!
Stay curious,
Disclaimer: This information is intended for general reference only. It is not a replacement for professional health advice. The content in this post intentionally does not provide dosage information or possible interactions with prescription drugs or other medications. Please contact a certified health practitioner such as a physician of Oriental Medicine or Herbalist before considering use. To schedule an appointment with Malerie, visit the services page.
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