|
| |
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 |
|
| |
| 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. |
| |
|
Lead plants
and dishcloth gourds are recommended vegetables
for people of the "Earth" element.
|
| |
| 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. |
| |
|
Coconut
milk is superb to quench
your thirst, especially in the hot season. |
| |
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. |
| |
|
Oranges
are excellent for people of every element. |
| |
| 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:
limes, morinda leaves, bitter cucumbers, Thai
cassia siamea leaves, trumpet flowers |
| |
|
Galangal |
| |
| Samples of Thai dishes:
hot and sour soup with trumpet flowers, saute
morinda leaves with minced pork |
| Top |
|
|
Hot
and sour shrimp clear soup is ideal
for "Water" dominated people,
because galangal is one of its ingredients. |
| |
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. |
| |
|
Ginger
helps boost the digestive system. |
| |
| Samples
of vegetables: ginger, galangal, pepper,
holy basil, turmeric, chilli, mint, lemon grass |
| |
|
It
is advisable for people who are born
an Aries, a Leo or a Sagittarius to
eat food cooked with swamp morning glory. |
| |
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. |
| |
|
| |
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 |
| |
|
Water
mimosa |
| |
| The
Harmony of Flavours and Seasons |
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. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
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 |
| |
|
In
the Hot season, papaya salad is
recommended to you as it helps
cool off and refresh your body. |
| |
|
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. |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
