Blood Nourishing Foods

In Chinese Medicine, Blood and Qi have a close interdependent relationship. Both Qi and Blood circulate around the body through the meridians and blood vessels activating and nourishing the tissues.
The quality of our Blood is a measure of the available nourishment circulating in our body. Blood nourishes our muscles, organs, brain – every part of us. Its quality depends on the quality of food we eat, as well as our ability to absorb nourishment.
Blood can be easily improved through diet. As all food forms the basis of Blood, it is recommended to eat well and widely although certain foods will have a stronger effect on the blood (see table below).

Avoid or reduce	Beneficial foods	Dietary habits, cooking methods and other advice
- Fatty foods or deep fried foods - Processed foods or foods with chemicals/additives - Non essential drugs	Meat or fish in regular, small amounts: Chicken and eggs, pork, lamb or beef, liver (organic), oysters, mussels, cuttlefish, sardines, herring Vegetables (preferably cooked): Carrots, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, beetroots, avocado, black beans, kidney beans, aduki beans, eggplant, glutinous rice Fruit: dates, lychee, grapes, raisins, cherries, figs, mulberries Sesame seed, molasses, Chinese angelica	- Chew foods well and eat slowly and in a relaxed environment - Eat foods that are good quality, especially when eating liver make sure it is organic - Rest for a while after eating, especially after your main meal of the day - Preferred cooking methods are steaming, boiling, stewing and stir-frying - Raw fruit and vegetables in small quantities only