According to Chinese medicine, people with a balanced constitution are lucky to have inherited a healthy constitution from their parents. They still need to follow TCM principles to keep balanced and stay healthy.
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People with a balanced, yin and yang harmonious constitution are balanced in mind and body. Physically, these people usually have a symmetrical head, shoulders, and chest.
They are even-tempered. While not necessarily strong, they quickly adapt to different situations and environments. They are good at self-healing as well.
What enables a balanced constitution?
A balanced body constitution is primarily given to you by your parents. At conception you receive strong prenatal qi.
Much like the concept of genetics in western medicine, according to TCM, at conception your parents set your foundational energetic nature. Wang Chong, a Chinese medicine practitioner in the 1st century CE writes that:
Strength and long life, weakness and short life are connected with the copiousness and scarcity of the receive qi…When the qi is copious, the body becomes strong, and the body being strong, life lasts long.
On the other hand, when the vital force is scanty, the body is weak, and with a weak body, life is short…A short life is accompanied by much sickness.
A yin and yang harmonious body constitution can also be cultivated through proper lifestyle choices. As an example, if your parents fed you nourishing whole foods as a child, they helped you maintain and even strengthen your healthy condition.
Balanced emotions help
Another example is if your parents created an emotionally stable environment. If you were raised in a home where people got along and learned how to communicate positively, you expended less qi.
As an adult, if you continue to stay calm and use effective communication skills, your qi will continue to stay strong.
Furthermore, you can continue to build acquired sources of qi by following TCM principles. It might be easier for you to maintain a balanced body constitution than other people. However, you can also lose your good health if you make unhealthy lifestyle choices.
You can keep feeling great
Maintaining positive dietary, exercise, and emotional habits can help you maintain your balanced constitution, the ideal, yin and yang balanced, healthy state.
Here are some general patterns associated with a yin and yang harmonious state.
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Common characteristics of a balanced constitution
- Face is moist and the color is a healthy red or pink (showing good blood flow)
- Body skin is bright, moist, and elastic
- Hair is luxurious and dark in its natural color
- Eyes are bright with spirit (Shen)
- Nose has the healthy pink color and a strong sense of smell
- Plenty of energy without tiring easily
- Breath is gentle and regular
- Able to tolerate both cold and hot weather
- Limbs are strong
- Sleep is good
- Bowel movements are regular (1-3 times per day)
- Menstruation is regular for women (4 days of rich, red blood without clots or cramping)
- Pulse is gentle and strong
Common physical characteristics
- Standard body shape
- Strong body
Common emotional characteristics
People with a balanced constitution often
- Easy going
- Cheerful
Greatest health risks for a balanced constitution
- Less likely to get sick
How to maintain your healthy constitution through diet
Even with a balanced constitution, it is important to follow seasonal changes. Each season, adjust your lifestyle and diet.
For example, you should choose a balance of foods. Most of the foods you eat should be neutral in nature. This will help balance yin and yang in your body.
Furthermore, neutral foods tonify blood and qi, which fights disease and harmonizes the body. Your goal is to:
- Preserve your inherited qi
- Build more acquired qi
- Keep yin and yang in balance
In addition to eating a balanced diet, you should not stay hungry for too long. Following the Chinese medicine body clock will ensure you fuel your body properly.
You should eat a large breakfast between 7:00-9:00 AM, an even larger lunch between 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, and a light dinner between 5:00-7:00 PM.
Choosing foods for your balanced constitution
Also, do not eat foods that are too hot or too cold in energetic nature. Hot and spicy foods can shift your body to a damp-heat or yin deficiency body type.
To maintain your balanced constitution, choose more neutral foods, as listed below. You should also eat more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. All foods should be lightly cooked if you are over 50.
Regardless of your age, you should also avoid raw foods in fall and winter. Too much cold, raw, or frozen food can upset your circulation. When that happens, you can develop a blood stasis or yang deficiency body type.
What's more, eat fewer greasy, and fatty foods. They weaken your spleen and stomach. A weak digestive system means your body cannot make quality grain qi.
Two final tips about dietary practices you should follow. First of all, limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol depletes qi. Secondly, avoid over-eating and over-drinking. If you do, you weaken your qi over time. Overeating can also lead to a phlegm damp constitution.
Foods to add
People with a balanced constitution should eat foods that keep their qi balanced. These foods are great choices.
all beans
amaranth
anchovies
apples
apricots
asparagus
barley
beef
buckwheat
carp
carrots
celery
cherries
chestnuts
Chinese cabbage
chicken
coconut
corn
duck
grapes
herring
lily bulb
litchi fruit
longan fruit
lotus root
millet
mushrooms
oats
olive oil
oranges
papaya
peaches
peanuts
pears
pumpkin
salmon
sardines
sesame seeds
squash
water chestnuts
winter melon
Fresh longan fruit. Also called dragon's eyes.
Foods and beverages to avoid
If you have a balanced constitution, you can eat most foods. You should eat the following foods rarely and in moderation when you do.
alcohol
butter
cheese
chilies
fried foods
high fat foods
lard
margarine
spicy foods
Fatty foods can harm your liver and healthy vision.
People with a balanced constitution should keep their digestion strong by avoided fatty and spicy foods.
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How to strengthen your qi with good lifestyle habits
Cultivate your mind
If you have maintained your balanced constitution, you most likely have balanced emotions. You do not let overthinking and worry control you. Great job!
Continue to keep a calm and quiet state of mind. Moving meditations, such as qigong and yoga, will help. You can also benefit from seated meditations.
On top of this, maintain a kind temperament and loving heart towards other people. This mindset will not only preserve your qi, it will add to your stores of qi.
Furthermore, filling your life with love will allow you to keep an optimistic mindset. Optimism nourishes and strengthens your already robust stores of qi.
Guided meditation to keep your emotions balanced
Even with a balanced constitution, life can still throw you challenges.
By clearing emotional and physical blockages from these challenges, you will be able to maintain your yin and yang harmonious state.
How to exercise for your balanced constitution
Taking regular walk outdoors will continue to strengthen your qi. Breathe deeply as you walk. Air qi will flow into your lungs and add to the qi you acquire from food.
Also, you should avoid overly strenuous exercise. Rapid breathing or holding your breath during exercise can weaken your organs and qi over time.
Reducing exertion and doing moderate exercise regularly is best. This recommendation is especially true if you are over 50.
To illustrate, you can practice tai ji, breathing exercises, yoga, and qigong.
Additionally, avoid mental and sexual strain, to maintain your qi. Your goal is to stay in yin and yang harmonious balance.
Quick qigong exercises
Moving consistently throughout your day is a better way to breathe in fresh air and calm your mind than doing a one-hour workout.
This famous 10-minute Taiwanese qigong exercise is perfect for people with a balanced constitution.
Acupressure massage to strengthen your digestion
A strong digestive system will help your body produce essential qi. Do this abdominal massage after each meal to strengthen digestive energy.
My Body Type Quiz
Don't know your TCM body type?
Balanced Constitution References
Deadman, P. (2016). Live Well Live Long
Yanfu, Z. (2002). Life Cultivation & Rehabilitation of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yao, H. & Guo, W. (2001). Chinese Food Life Care
Zhang, L. (2017) A TCM Way to be Healthy Inside and Out
http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/lifestyles/food_body_constitutions.html
