As early as in the "Huangdi Neijing" (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), there is a record of "Five Colors Enter the Five Organs." The ancients believed that all things in nature could be connected with the Five Elements. Generally, the Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—correspond to the five colors of white, green, black, red, and yellow, respectively. This led to the sayings: sour flavor and green color enter the liver; bitter flavor and red color enter the heart; sweet flavor and yellow color enter the spleen; pungent flavor and white color enter the lung; and salty flavor and black color enter the kidney.
I. Green and Cyan Fruits and Vegetables
Green and cyan belong to Wood and correspond to the sour flavor. They primarily enter the Liver meridian, corresponding to the liver and gallbladder. Proper consumption can clear the liver and brighten the eyes, helping to nourish and protect the liver, and treat conditions such as pain in the hypochondriac region, dry eyes, and tearing. Recommended foods: various leafy greens like cabbage, bok choy, and spinach.
II. Red, Purple, and Pink Fruits and Vegetables
Red belongs to Fire and corresponds to the bitter flavor. It primarily enters the Heart meridian, corresponding to the heart, small intestine, and tongue. Proper consumption of red fruits and vegetables can tonify the heart and is very effective for treating certain heart discomforts. Recommended foods: red beans, carrots, and tomatoes.
III. Yellow and Brown Fruits and Vegetables
Yellow belongs to Earth and corresponds to the sweet flavor. It primarily enters the Spleen meridian, corresponding to the spleen, stomach, and mouth. Proper consumption of yellow foods can strengthen the spleen and benefit the stomach, promote digestion, stimulate the appetite, and treat conditions such as epigastric bloating and pain. Recommended foods: oranges, pumpkins, corn, soybeans, and sweet potatoes.
IV. White Fruits and Vegetables
White belongs to Metal and corresponds to the pungent flavor. It primarily enters the Lung meridian, corresponding to the lungs, large intestine, and respiratory system. Proper consumption of white foods can moisten the lungs, stop coughing, resolve phlegm, and calm wheezing. It is very effective for treating coughs with sputum, wheezing, and other conditions caused by cold or heat. Recommended foods: onions, garlic, pears, white radish, Chinese yam, almonds, lily bulbs, and tremella (snow fungus).
V. Black and Blue Fruits and Vegetables
Black and blue belong to Water and correspond to the salty flavor. They primarily enter the Kidney meridian, corresponding to the kidneys and bladder. Proper consumption of black foods can tonify the kidneys and strengthen yang, alleviating discomfort caused by kidney deficiency. Recommended foods: black beans, black sesame, blueberries, shiitake mushrooms, jujubes, longans, and dark plums.
Although this theory has been around for a long time, we still need to understand it dialectically. If one believes that red food tonifies the heart and then binge-eats red chili peppers, leading to "heatiness" (上火), which results in pimples, mouth sores, and constipation, it shows that this method of tonification is incorrect. Therefore, the best approach is to combine the "Five Colors" with the "Five Flavors" of food, and also consider the nature of the food as either "cold" or "heat," so that it can work correctly.
For example, although bitter melon is green, its nature is cold and its flavor is bitter. Since the bitter flavor enters the heart, its main effect is to clear the heart and purge fire. Another example is the jujube, which is red, but its nature is warm and its flavor is sweet. Since the sweet flavor enters the spleen, the main effect of red jujubes is to tonify the spleen and replenish qi. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to understand this dialectically and avoid mechanical application.
The Five Organs, Five Elements, Five Colors, and Five Flavors are all closely connected. If we want to better practice health preservation, we need to learn more about them!