Why Daoist Nutrition Discourages Cold Foods: A Blend of Tradition and Science

If you’ve ever been advised against consuming cold foods and beverages by a Daoist healing arts or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, you could have questioned: what’s the big deal? After all, we live in a world where it’s completely normal to grab a cold salad or iced coffee.

Actually, this goes beyond mere ancient tradition. Cold foods can throw your body off balance in Daoist philosophy; curiously enough, modern science supports some of these ideas as well. So let’s explore why avoiding cold foods can improve your health—particularly if you suffer from childhood complex trauma.

The Daoist View: Spleen Function and Digestive Fire

TCM and the Daoist healing traditions view the Spleen as the rockstar of digestive function. It overseees the transformation of the food you consume into the energy (qi) your body needs to operate. The Spleen prefers warmth, though, and this is the catch. Its proper operation depends on a robust digestive “fire.”

Consuming cold meals or beverages is like throwing ice on that fire. The Spleen slows down, which causes bloating, lethargy, even low energy levels. Cold food can also produce something known as “dampness,” a fancy way of stating your digestion is slow and sticky, which causes additional problems including water retention and digestive upset.

But that’s not all; when the Spleen begins to break-down, it calls for support from your Kidneys—more especially, Kidney Yang. The Kidneys provide the foundational warmth and energy to keep your system in operation. If you’re continuously consuming cold foods, however, you’re overworking the Kidneys, which can cause more severe problems including chronic fatigue, cold hands and feet, and even lower back pain.

The Science Behind Cold Foods: Why It Makes Sense

Should all that sound a bit too abstract, let’s consider it from a more contemporary perspective.

For most of human history, we didn’t even have access to cold foods on the level we do now. Developed roughly 150 years ago, refrigeration is a fairly modern development. People ate largely warm or room-temperature foods prior to that as that’s what was available.

That the cooking of food increases its nutritional value is another pertinent fact. Cooking breaks down strong plant fibers and makes nutrients easier to absorb. Actually, some researchers think that cooking food was essential for human development, particularly brain development, since it enabled us to maximize the nutrients contained in the food we ate.

And looking at the animal kingdom, very few species consume food cooler than their body temperature. Those that do, like scavengers such as vultures, usually have fairly acidic digestive systems to manage it. By contrast, humans are not designed that way. Traditionally, even those in cold climates—like Eskimos—cook most of their food.

All of this points to our digestive systems being naturally more suited for heated or cooked foods, which fits what Daoist nutrition has been recommending for thousands of years.

Linking the Two Viewpoints

Combining current views with the Daoist knowledge of the Spleen and Kidneys helps us to understand why cold foods could cause disturbance of digestion and general vitality. The Spleen’s need for warmth isn’t just an ancient idea—it reflects how our bodies have evolved to survive.

Therefore, cold foods strain your digestion and energy levels whether you see this through the prism of Daoist philosophy or modern biology. For some individuals, though, this effect may be considerably more noteworthy.

Why Avoiding Cold Foods is Crucial for Trauma Survivors

This is where it gets quite crucial, particularly if you’ve gone through childhood complex trauma.

Not by chance, survivors of childhood trauma frequently contend with digestive problems. Your body remains stuck in a fight-or-flight mode for years as a result of long-term emotional stress. This can compromise your digestive system, especially your Spleen, so your body struggles to break down food and convert it into energy. You can feel “heavy,” drained, or generally bloated and tired.

But it goes deeper than that.

  • Digestive Sensitivity: Your body has been through a lot, and the persistent stress you grew up with could have made your digestive system more sensitive than most. Slowing digestion even more, cold foods cause bloating, pain, and tiredness. This is a common issue among trauma survivors.
  • Emotional Regulation: Believe it or not, there’s a correlation between your emotional processing and the digestive process. When you’re healing from trauma, your body needs to feel more grounded and stable, and warm, nourishing foods can help. Cold foods can actually have the reverse impact, making it more difficult to stay emotionally centered.
  • Preserving Energy: Trauma survivors sometimes feel like they’re running on empty. To make things worse, cold food causes your body to work harder to digest and thus drains your energy reserves, especially your Kidney yang. Kidney yang is the core energy and vitality of your body. When it’s damaged it’s very difficult to restore. It’s important to conserve as much energy as you can if trauma has already worn you out.
  • Nurturing Your Body: Steering clear of cold foods gives your body an opportunity to heal. Warm, cooked food promotes digestion, which helps your general health and emotional well-being. This little adjustment can make a big difference in your daily mood for those recovering from trauma.

Handling Common Objections: Why Should I Steer Clear of Cold Foods?

Feeling cautious about embracing the concept of eliminating cold food is quite natural. After all, cold meals and drinks abound, they’re a normal facet of modern life. You might even be wondering, “I feel fine eating cold food, so why should I change?” Let’s walk through some of the most common concerns and strategies for easing into this approach:

“I feel great; I’ve always eaten cold foods.”

It makes sense, particularly if you’ve been eating cold foods your entire life without experiencing any problems. Still, one of those physical functions that steadily deteriorates over time is digestion. Giving warm, cooked foods a try can help you feel better in small but important ways, especially if you currently suffer from low energy, bloating, or digestive pain.

“I live in a hot climate and cold foods cool me down.”

I understand that eating cold food, particularly if you live in a hot climate, can feel refreshing. From a Daoist point of view, though, using cold food to cool your body provides only short-term relief. Actually, over time it can cause your body to feel more hot and fatigued. To keep cool without taxing your digestive function, try eating lighter, warm meals and room-temperature liquids.

“It’s hard to avoid cold foods—what’s a realistic approach?”

You don’t have to change everything overnight. Start by progressively reducing how much cold food you eat. For instance, substitute room-temperature water or herbal tea for cold drinks, or try lightly cooked vegetables instead of raw salads. The secret is to be consistent over time and pay attention to how your body responds to more nourishing, warmer choices.

“What if I don’t notice a difference?”

Your body will likely need several weeks to adjust. This is a modest change that, over time, supports your digestion and energy levels. It’s not a quick fix. If you don’t see immediate results, keep with it a little bit longer and see the little ways your digestion or energy improve.

Final Thoughts

Modern science and Daoist philosophy both make clear that cold foods can slow down digestion, sap vitality, and cause you to feel off-balance. If you are recovering from childhood complex trauma, in which case your body may already be coping with long-term stress, this is very crucial.

As an experiment, try cutting back on cold food and beverages in your diet for a few weeks. Rather, concentrate on warm, cooked food and observe how your body reacts. Your digestion, energy, and emotional equilibrium may all change significantly as a result of this one minor adjustment.

Doug Crawford, L.Ac.

Disclaimer

This website does not provide medical advice. The information provided is for educational purposes only. While I strive for accuracy, it’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified health care provider with any questions about a medical condition or treatment and before starting a new health regimen. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you read on this website.