Do you like Thai food? It is one of the
world's five most popular culinary styles,
along with those of the Chinese, Indian,
Italian and French. It features hot and
spicy tastes with colourful ingredients
which not only coordinate to boost appetite
but also contain medicinal properties.
Traditional Thai medicine regards food as
a fundamental of a person's physical and
mental health. If one consumes food which
harmonizes with the seasons of the year,
the geographical condition of his locality
and the chemical elements in his body,
good health and clear state of mind will be
his. This principle has been observed by
the Thai people for a long time to keep the
body and mind in equilibrium.
The Harmony of Flavours and Elements
Samples of beverages: lemon juice,
tomato juice, tamarind juice, pineapple
juice
Wind dominated people are those born a
Gemini (15 June-15 July), a Libra (17 Oct.-
15 Nov.) or an Aquarius (13 Feb.-13 Mar.).
There is a tendency for them to develop
problems with joints and bones, the
digestive system and constipation. They
should eat something cool, aromatic or hot.
Samples of vegetables: ginger, galangal,
pepper, holy basil, turmeric, chilli, mint,
lemon grass
According to traditional Thai medicine, a
human body consists of four elements --
earth, water, wind and fire. Earth is a
constituent of 20 organs like hair, nails,
teeth and bones. Water constitutes 12
fluids in the body, such as bile, blood and
lymph. Wind is the breath. It is a factor in
body movements.
Fire provides heat and energy to keep the
body warm and help with digestion. A
balance of these four elements enables the
body to function well. However, for each
person, only one element is predominant
while the other three are supplementary.
For example, a person born on 14 May has
Earth as a predominant element, with
water, wind and fire as supporters. To
maintain the inner balance, it is important
to take food with opposing
properties.Below are some traditional hints
for people of each element, some of which
are still observed.
Samples of Thai dishes: chicken in
coconut cream, hot and sour shrimp clear
soup
Samples of beverages: ginger juice,
galangal juice, lemon grass juice
Fire dominated people are those born an
Aries (13 Apr.-13 May), a Leo (16 Aug.-16
Sept.) or a Sagittarius (16 Dec.-13 Jan.).
These people often have problems of
stomach malfunction, stress, allergies and
diarrhea. Food of bitter and cooling tastes
are suitable for them.
Earth dominated people are those born a
Taurus (14 May-14 June), a Virgo (17
Sept.-16 Oct.), or an Aquarius (14 Jan.-12
Feb.). They tend to be obese and easily
develop diabetes, high blood pressure,
rheumatism, asthma, coughing and cold.
Food that has an astringent, salty or sweet
flavour, or is greasy, is recommended to
them, such as the following:
Samples of vegetables: unripe bananas,
unripe jackfruits, lead plant, spinach,
dishcloth gourds
Samples of Thai dishes: saute dishcloth
gourds with shrimps, spicy soup with
unripe bananas and shrimps
Samples of beverages: Coconut milk,
soya milk, orange juice, guava juice,
pumpkin juice, corn milk.
Water dominated people are those born a
Leo (16 July-16 Aug.), a Scorpio (16 Nov.-
15 Dec.) or a Pisces (14 Mar.-12 Apr.).
Their health problems are similar to those
of the Earth-type people. They should eat
something sour or slightly bitter, such as :
Samples of vegetables: swamp morning
glory, water mimosa
Samples of Thai dishes: saute swamp
morning glory, water mimosa spicy salad
Samples of beverages: watermelon juice,
pandanus leaf juice, chrysanthemum juice
Even though one eats in conformation with
the above principles, one might still be
affected by seasonal changes which
results in the imbalance of the body. Trying
to eat properly will help maintain the body
in healthy condition. These are some
dietary suggestions for each season.
Hot Season (Feb.-May) The fire element
is directly affected by heat. In this season,
people frequently have fevers or other
symptoms such as fatigue, and thirst.
Eating food having bitter or sour flavour
like papaya salad will cool off and refresh
the body.
Rainy Season (June-Sept.) People tend to
catch a cold and have feverish symptoms
because of the increased moisture and
coolness in the air. Hot and spicy food
such as spicy and sour shrimp soup is the
best medicine for these symptoms.
leaves, bitter cucumbers, Thai cassia
siamea leaves, trumpet flowers
Samples of Thai dishes: hot and sour
soup with trumpet flowers, saute morinda
leaves with minced pork
Cool Season (Oct.-Jan.) The dry weather
disturbs the water element. The coolness
and the dryness decrease moisture in the
body, resulting in dry skin, headaches,
running nose and sprains
Food which has bitter, hot or sour flavour
and contains krachai, pepper and chilli, like
a mild and spicy soup with sweet basil,
dishcloth gourds and minced shrimps, can
help relieve these symptoms.
Now, let's go for Thai food for its delicious
tastes and a healthy body.
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