Chinese medicine advocates that the human body is a harmony that must include yin and yang, and illness occurs when disequilibrium happens. Woman natually tend to have more yin than man, but there are individual differences. Moreover, organs such as the liver, heart, spleen, kidney, and lungs are yin, as is the inside and the front of the body. The gallbladder, stomach, intestines, and bladder are yang, as well as the body surface and the back. Symptoms of disease usually reflect an imbalance between yin and yang.
Chinese people classify foods as hot and cold.
Hot foods generally include those that are high in calories, cooked in oil, and irritating to the mouth and those that are red, orange, or yellow in color. Of course, the cooking method and other factors will have different effects on food. For example, the ingredients used in preparing foods contribute on their hotness or coldness as well. We can make slightly cold food into a hot dish by adding chili to it. In addition, grilling, roasting, and baking are hot, and deep-frying is hottest.