I will be giving a public talk on Oriental medical nutrition at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at the YMCAs Health Living Center Auditorium, 4127 W. Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto.

Dr. Joseph Samuels/Oriental Medicine

This talk, which is open to the public, will give all participants the opportunity to ask questions about how Oriental medicine addresses nutrition, as well as questions about medicine in general.

Oriental medical nutrition is one of the modalities that make up the field of Oriental medicine. It is called medical nutrition because from an Eastern perspective, food is considered to be a form of medicine.

A few thousand years ago, doctors of Oriental medicine discovered that different foods have different properties to them and each food will affect our internal organ or internal organ system in a very specific way. The physicians of that time compiled vast amounts of medical literature on the subject and separated foods into many different categories.

As for the properties of food, some foods have a warming effect on the body, some have a cooling effect and some have a neutral effect on the body.

In the preparation of food, preparation, cleaning, harvest time, storage and more have an effect on the food.

Some food combinations are very beneficial to our health, while other food combinations can be upsetting to our system. Also, whenever possible, avoid eating foods that contain hormones or preservatives, as well as chemically processed foods.

Never eat large amounts of food. This behavior taxes our digestive system and can lead to a variety of medical conditions, including an overall deterioration of our general health. A good rule of thumb is to eat until you are 2/3 full.

The order that food is eaten is important. One of the main points here is not to drink too much liquid one half-hour before, during or one half-hour after a meal. This will affect the digestive system in a negative way. Also, drinking a little soup broth after a meal can help keep the esophagus clean and healthy.

The time of day we eat and what we eat has a great impact on our health. This point is extremely important from an Oriental medicine perspective. Also, the types of food we eat at a certain time (seasons) of the year will affect our overall health.

After being properly diagnosed by a doctor of Oriental medicine and a full medical evaluation of the patient is completed regarding an illness, a diet can be created and tailored specifically for that individual. This diet will aid in the healing process of internal organ conditions, disease, injuries, etc.

Incorporating Oriental medical nutrition into our health care plan is a wonderful addition that brings great benefit to our overall physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.

Dr. Samuels is the medical director of Citrus Alternative Medicine. Citrus Alternative Medicine is located at 2639 W. Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto. Contact the office at 352-746-5669 or visit http://www.citrusalternativemedicine.com.

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Food and our bodies | Health - Citrus County Chronicle