TCM for All

Evelyn Zhang, July 13th, 2026

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Making sure the foods you eat work with your body is a big part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It might sound complicated at first, but it’s actually not as difficult as you might think.

In this post, I want to talk about a few foods that are super common in American diets but are looked at a little differently in TCM.

Yogurt

This one usually surprises people.

Yogurt is known for being high in protein and low in calories, so it’s become a go-to breakfast for a lot of people. But in TCM, yogurt is considered a “cold” food, which means it’s thought to cool down your digestive system. Because of that, having it first thing in the morning isn’t usually recommended.

That doesn’t mean you have to stop eating yogurt! If you enjoy it, try having it later in the day instead. You can also let it sit out for a few minutes after taking it out of the fridge before eating it, rather than eating it ice cold.

Excessive Spicy and “Hot” Foods

If you love spicy food, don’t worry, you don’t have to give it up.

Foods like chili peppers, hot pot, and extra spicy curries are totally fine to enjoy. The key is moderation. In TCM, foods that are considered very “hot” can throw your body out of balance if you naturally run warm or already have excess “heat.”

On the other hand, warming ingredients like ginger are often used to help support digestion.

If you’re curious about your own body type, visiting a local TCM clinic can be a great place to start. A practitioner can help you understand whether you tend to have more “heat,” “cold,” or “dampness.” I’ll share a few clinic recommendations in another post!

Salads

Salads are healthy, but according to TCM, they probably shouldn’t be the only thing you’re eating every day.

Because raw vegetables are considered cooling, eating large salads as your main meal every day can be harder on digestion for some people. Some may notice bloating or sluggish digestion, especially if they already tend to have a weaker digestive system.

A few easy ways to balance things out are:

• Pair your salad with a warm bowl of soup.
• Have a smaller side salad instead of making it your whole meal.
• Add more cooked vegetables into your meals.

The Main Takeaway

The goal isn’t to avoid certain foods forever. Food is meant to be enjoyed, and having cold foods or spicy meals every now and then is completely okay.

TCM is all about balance. According to its principles, it’s generally best not to make these foods an everyday habit:

• Dairy products
• Raw meat
• Large amounts of uncooked vegetables
• Extra spicy foods
• Alcohol

Everyone’s body is different, so what feels good for one person might not be the best fit for someone else. Finding what works for your body is what TCM is all about.

If you have any questions, feel free to send an email!