Beyond the incredible flavors, you gotta love the cooling, anti-inflammatory properties of the ingredients in this popular Korean dish.
South Korea will always hold a special place in our hearts - especially for me (Meredith), as I lived there for several years before becoming an acupuncturist. Besides having addictions to jjimjilbangs (Korean spas) and K-dramas, bibimbap is a South Korean dish we make often in the Nguyen household.
While the traditional dish consists of a vegetable medley that sits atop a bed of white rice, often containing beef, and topped with a gochujang (spicy red pepper) sauce, this recipe is an even healthier twist on our beloved bibimbap. If you're not keen on our cauliflower rice (which happens to be incredibly yin-tonifying), try brown rice. We've also balanced out the spicy red pepper paste by blending it with honey and sesame oil.
Other cooling, yin-nourishing foods in this bowl include:
Carrots
Zucchini
Tofu
Mung Bean Sprouts
Spinach
Black Sesame Seeds
According to TCM, all things contain both yin and yang energy, including our bodies. When we lack sufficient "yin" to balance out the warming nature of “yang” within our bodies, we lack sufficient hydration and the nutrients to cool and nourish our blood and kidneys, resulting in symptoms of heat and/or dryness. Yang foods, on the other hand, help to warm and invigorate our bodies, making them great for cold, stagnation symptoms.
When it comes to choosing more "yin" or "yang" foods, remember that:
Foods that grow in the warmer months are more yin, to help cool heat in the body; while foods that naturally grow in colder months are more yang, as they help to warm up the body and its circulation.
Foods that are softer tend to be more yin; foods that are harder, or animal products, are generally more yang.
Salty and bitter flavors are more yin in nature, while spicy, sour, and sweet flavors are typically more yang.
Foods with higher water content (like melons or zucchini) are yin as they help to cool the body down, while less water content foods (like root veggies) are more drying and warming.
Foods that grow upward towards the sun (like spinach) are more yin, as they need the sun to help balance their cooling nature, while foods that grow downward away from the sun (like sweet potatoes) are yang. They don't need the sun to balance their nature.
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