Hello, my friends, Today's post has information from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as it relates to foods, more specifically, flavors. The five flavors of food include sweet, sour, pungent, bitter and salty. Sweet foods , such as sugar and honey, will neutralize the toxic effects of other foods; however, they also affect the stomach and spleen, and they can cause digestive disturbances and lead to weight gain. Sour foods , such as pears and plums, can prevent diarrhea or excessive perspiration within the body, and they affect the gallbladder and liver. Pungent foods , such as parsley and chives, affect the large intestine and lungs and promote the circulation of energy within the body. Bitter foods , such as lettuce and hops are important for the small intestine and heart and are recommended to reduce body heat. Salty foods , such as kelp and seaweed are know to affect the bladder and kidneys, and they can prevent hardening of glands and muscles and are used to tr...