Metabolic Values of Foods

The metabolic values of foods as heating or cooling is a fundamental concept in Humoral Medicine, of which medical astrology is a part of.

Humoral medicine is based on the theory of four humors – blood, phlegm, yellow bile (yellow choler), and black bile (black choler) – and their corresponding temperaments combining hot, cold, moist, and dry characteristics.

The basic principle is to maintain a balance of these humors and qualities in the body for optimal health. This elemental, or humoral, classification guides dietary recommendations for different body birth temperaments and conditions diagnosed through a horary consultation.

The foods listed below closely align with the Unani-Tibb (Greek) perspective on their inherent qualities. Corresponding metabolic value of food lists can be found in all branches of Humoral Medicine such as Chinese (TCM), Korean, Tibetan medicines, Ayurveda and various Native cultures around the world. This ancient dietary wisdom is based on the ancient practice of balancing opposites using food as a core therapeutic modality.

Metabolic Value: Hot and Dry. Foods that increase the Fire element / Yellow Choler humor.
Meats	all small bird, meat, chicken, lobsters, mackerel, oily fish, pilchards, prawns, sardines
Vegetables	bitter gourd, celery, green pepper, leek, onion, red pepper, yellow pepper
Fruits	avocado, grapes
Nuts	cashews, hazel nuts, pecan nuts, walnuts
Grains & Seeds	celery seeds, chickpeas, fenugreek seeds, gram flour, mustard seeds, papad
Dairy Products	eggs
Oils	mustard oil
Spices & Herbs	aniseed, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, geechved chilli, fenugreek, lavender, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, rocket, rosemary, saffron, tarragon
Drinks	alcohol, herbal teas (see herbs)
Flavourants	grape juice, pungent and bitter flavourants
Condiments & Spreads	chilli sauce, mustard sauce, peri-peri sauce
Confectionary & Desserts	-
Cereals	-
Dishes	spicy dishes

Metabolic Value: Cold and Moist. Foods that increase the Water element / Phlegm humor
Meats	duck, rabbit
Vegetables	beetroot, baby marrow, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, itchis, melons, squash, lady fingers (okra), pawpaw, pears, lettuce, prickly pears, pumpkin, quinoa, radish, sprouts, spanspek, soya beans, sweet apples, tofu, zucchini
Fruits	apricot, cranberries, figs, kiwi fruit, mulberries
Nuts	macadamia
Grains & Seeds	cucumber seeds, linseed, melon seeds, pumpkin seeds, rice cakes, rice, semolina
Dairy Products	coconut milk, cow's milk, goats milk, buttermilk, butter, margarine, rice milk, soya milk
Oils	-
Spices & Herbs	cardamom, coriander, cumin, vanilla
Drinks	milk shakes, rooibos, sugar cane, juice, water
Flavourants	fructose, glucose, rose syrup
Condiments & Spreads	-
Confectionary & Desserts	custard, ice cream, sago
Cereals	pronutro, rice crispies
Dishes	-

Metabolic Value: Hot and Moist. Foods that increase the Air element / Blood humor
Meats	buck, goat, goose, lamb, liver, mutton, turkey
Vegetables	artichokes, asparagus, olives, spinach, spring onion, sweet potato, turnips
Fruits	bananas, dates, guavas, mangoes, peaches, papaya
Nuts	almonds, brazil nuts, pistachios, apricot kernels
Grains & Seeds	bulghur wheat, rye, sunflower seeds, wheat, macaroni, dill seeds
Dairy Products	clarified butter, condensed milk, cheese, cream cheese, mother's milk (for babies), fresh cream
Oils	castor oil, olive oil (fresher), sunflower oil
Spices & Herbs	bay leaves, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chives, ginger, fennel, green masala (see herbs), marjoram, mint, sage, soya sauce, thyme, turmeric, watercress, white pepper
Drinks	green tea, hot water, juices (see fruits), herbal teas
Flavourants	honey, molasses, salt, sugars
Condiments & Spreads	mayonnaise
Confectionary & Desserts	biscuits, cakes, chocolate, liquorice, vermicelli
Cereals	all bran flakes, honey smaks, muesli, nutri-k, nutriflic, oats, puffed wheat, taystes wheat, weetbix
Dishes	bran, sweet dishes

Metabolic Value: Cold and Dry. Foods that increase the Earth element / Black Choler humor
Meats	beef, biltong (deer), crabs, fish, knuckles, mussels, ostrich, oysters, pork, snails, snook, tripe, tuna
Vegetables	brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, sauerkraut, tomatoes
Fruits	(all sour fruits), green apples, berries, coconut, china/dry fruit, granadilla, grape fruit, lemon, lime, naartjies, oranges, pineapple, plums, pomes, pomegranate, raspberries, strawberries, sultanas
Nuts	peanuts
Grains & Seeds	barley, beans (all types), corn, couscous, lentils, maize, mielies, popcorn, poppy seeds, samp, sesame seeds
Dairy Products	egg white, sour cream, sour milk, yoghurt
Oils	coconut oil, corn oil, olive oil (older), sesame oil
Spices & Herbs	basil, tamarind
Drinks	coffee, ice, sour fruit juices, tea (black)
Flavourants	-
Condiments & Spreads	balsamic, vinegar, peanut butter, pickles, tomato sauce, worcestershire sauce
Confectionary & Desserts	-
Cereals	cornflakes, maltabella, melie meal, millet
Dishes	sour dishes

For an in-depth understanding and practical demonstrations of the diagnostic technique necessary to determine which food type is recommended for each individual see the following resources.

The Traditional Healer’s Handbook by G M Chishti is an invaluable resource for dietary adjustments and herbal treatment according to horary diagnosis of the elements / humors.