The Qi Connection: Unlocking Wellness with TCM
Welcome to The Qi Connection, the podcast where ancient wisdom meets modern health. Join us on a journey into the fascinating world of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), uncovering its secrets to achieving balance, vitality, and holistic well-being.
Each episode dives deep into the principles of TCM—like Qi, Yin-Yang balance, and the Five Elements—explaining how they can transform your daily life. Through expert interviews, real-life success stories, and actionable tips, we’ll explore how TCM can help improve gut health, reduce inflammation, and boost your energy levels naturally.
Whether you’re a wellness enthusiast, curious about alternative medicine, or simply seeking a healthier lifestyle, The Qi Connection offers valuable insights that bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.
Brought to you by the creators of HealL, an AI-powered health companion that blends TCM principles with advanced technology to empower your wellness journey. Discover how TCM can enhance your life—one episode at a time.
The Qi Connection: Unlocking Wellness with TCM
Nourishing Life: Modern Science Meets Ancient Wisdom
Welcome to the Deep Dive. We take a whole stack of sources, articles, research and basically sift through it all.
Speaker 2:Like gold miners.
Speaker 1:Exactly Looking for those really valuable nuggets of insight. Today we're diving into something that affects everyone how our daily choices diet lifestyle, how they profoundly impact our well-being. And we're going to get specific, looking at areas like fertility.
Speaker 2:But the principles apply much more broadly, right?
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Now, what makes this deep dive a bit different is our approach. We're pulling from two well, two distinct but actually quite complementary sources. On one side we've got this modern scientific discussion nutrition, fertility, the latest research, a biochemical, view. Right and on the other, ancient wisdom. Traditional Chinese medicine, specifically its dietary principles or dietetics.
Speaker 2:Fascinating contrast.
Speaker 1:It is, and our mission here is well to pull out the most important insights from both. Give you a shortcut, really, to being well-informed about tailoring things for your own optimal health.
Speaker 2:Okay, sounds good. Where do we start?
Speaker 1:Okay, let's unpack this, starting with that modern medical lens, right? The fundamental idea here is that the body isn't just separate parts, it's a dynamic system. Everything's connected.
Speaker 2:Totally. What affects one part impacts others. Oh, especially with hormones.
Speaker 1:Exactly Reproductive hormones, egg quality, sperm quality it's all linked.
Speaker 2:What's fascinating here from this modern view, and often overlooked, is sleep.
Speaker 1:Sleep really number one.
Speaker 2:Arguably. Yeah, it's huge for the reproductive hormone system. It's not just about feeling rested, you know, sleep is vital for cellular repair, for one, and, crucially, for dropping inflammation levels throughout the body.
Speaker 1:Ah, inflammation, that keeps coming up in health discussions. So if sleep helps lower it, what does high inflammation actually do to reproduction?
Speaker 2:Well, it's pretty direct. We basically understand inflammation as being well toxic to both eggs and sperm.
Speaker 1:Toxic.
Speaker 2:Wow, yeah, it creates this inflammatory environment.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's just not ideal for conception, yeah, or for the uterus, you know, for implantation.
Speaker 1:So consistent. Good sleep is like foundational cooling things down internally Exactly A critical foundation.
Speaker 2:And building right on that foundation is nutrition right. There's a direct link there too, Very powerful link.
Speaker 1:And the big takeaway from modern research seems to be just reducing inflammation through diet. It's not vague.
Speaker 2:No, the studies are pretty consistent.
Speaker 1:It directly links to higher chances of conception, better fecundability, which is just the ability to conceive.
Speaker 2:Right, better ovulation too.
Speaker 1:Improved IDF assess rates, even lower miscarriage rates. It's quite compelling.
Speaker 2:It really is. Now we should probably acknowledge these nutrition and fertility studies. They can be tricky, often observational.
Speaker 1:Yeah, lots of variables Hard to isolate, just diet sometimes.
Speaker 2:Exactly Varied endpoints too, but the overall trend it's pretty clear. Reducing inflammation helps.
Speaker 1:So if someone's listening and thinking, okay, I want to optimize this from the modern science angle. What are the actionable steps? Diet-wise.
Speaker 2:Right, let's get practical.
Speaker 1:Where do we start? What should we definitely be eating more of?
Speaker 2:Okay, first things first, fruits and vegetables, load up.
Speaker 1:Why specific?
Speaker 2:They're incredibly high in fiber and antioxidants, both crucial for knocking down that inflammation.
Speaker 1:And what about the sugar in fruit Fructose gets a bad rap sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a bit of a myth. Buster moment Fruits' natural fructose isn't inherently bad. Like added sugars, it comes packaged with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants huge nutritional benefits.
Speaker 1:Don't fear the fruit. Good to know. Okay, what about grains? Huge debate there, right.
Speaker 2:Go keto, cut them all out. Well, whole grains are another excellent fiber source. Now the trend to eliminate grains, like in keto.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Look, weight loss can improve fertility, that's true, but it's likely because weight loss itself often reduces inflammation.
Speaker 1:Ah, ok, so it's the inflammation reduction, not necessarily the grain elimination itself.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Completely. Cutting out whole grains isn't necessarily beneficial for everyone trying to conceive. Grains isn't necessarily beneficial for everyone trying to conceive. And think about this. Obesity impacts IVF success, even when using donor eggs.
Speaker 1:Really Donor eggs? Yes, right.
Speaker 2:Which points towards that systemic inflammation issue. Again, not just the quality of the person's own eggs, it's body-wide, that's yeah, that's telling Okay, derry, another minefield.
Speaker 1:What's the verdict? It's telling Okay, dairy, another minefield. What's the verdict?
Speaker 2:Generally dairy seems okay, but the key word is real.
Speaker 1:Real as in.
Speaker 2:As in the full fat stuff, yeah, milk cheese, yogurt, not the processed skimmed versions.
Speaker 1:Wait, skimmed milk could be bad for fertility.
Speaker 2:Surprisingly, yeah, some data suggests it can decrease fertility, probably because processing strips out the natural fats and sometimes adds other things, you know, unnatural additives.
Speaker 1:So that whole low fat craze from the 90s probably not helpful here.
Speaker 2:Definitely not for reproductive health. Fats are absolutely critical, but hormones. Exactly Estrogen progesterone. They're built from fat and cholesterol, so that low fat advice was well misguided in this context.
Speaker 1:So we need healthy fats. Like what?
Speaker 2:Avocados, good oils, nuts, seeds and the fats you find naturally in full-fat dairy and unprocessed meats. They're essential building blocks.
Speaker 1:Okay, good, let's talk protein then. Oh, tofu and soy get confusing messages.
Speaker 2:They really do. But the research it shows tofu and soy do not negatively impact fertility. In fact, they might even improve it. They have antioxidant properties, good source of iron.
Speaker 1:So don't worry about the soy. What about fish?
Speaker 2:Fish is fantastic, great source of healthy fats, those omega-3s really vital for reproduction.
Speaker 1:But mercury right, especially during pregnancy.
Speaker 2:That's a valid concern, yes, but the general recommendation is about three servings a week, like four to six ounces per serving and interestingly, those stricter mercury restrictions apply mainly when you're actually pregnant.
Speaker 1:Not necessarily when just trying to conceive.
Speaker 2:Not as strictly. No, Of course, once pregnant, you also need to avoid raw seafood sushi, sashimi because of the infectious disease risk.
Speaker 1:But for trying to conceive, cooked fish is great okay, so recapping protein plant sources like soy are good. Fish is excellent. Seems like a push towards more plant forward generally, yes, a plant forward approach seems beneficial what about things like bacon, hot dogs, deli meat, those processed options?
Speaker 2:yeah, those are definitely on the strongly advised against list really why so strongly? They contain carcinogenic toxins, just flat out negatively impact fertility and honestly offer no real nutritional advantages.
Speaker 1:Okay, so avoid processed meats. What about plain red meat Steak burgers?
Speaker 2:Moderation is key. There Again, plant forward is the general recommendation. Some studies link high red meat consumption to lower embryo progression in IVF cycles.
Speaker 1:Hmm, but does it matter how the meat was raised?
Speaker 2:That's a really important question, isn't it? Was the meat in those studies grass-fed or factory-farmed, potentially with added hormones? Pollutants in the feed?
Speaker 1:Yeah, that could make a difference.
Speaker 2:It certainly could, something to consider when making choices.
Speaker 1:Okay, and the big one sugar Added sugars, artificial sweeteners, they're everywhere.
Speaker 2:This is major. Strongly advised against both added and artificial sugars.
Speaker 1:Even things like stevia or the little packets sweet and low.
Speaker 2:Yes, even those. They cause internal inflammation. They trigger stress reactions in the body.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:And some research even links them to higher miscarriage rates. It's a really significant area to clean up if you're focusing on fertility.
Speaker 1:So the big nutritional philosophy, from this modern view, it's not like one bad food ruins everything right. A single cookie isn't the end of the world.
Speaker 2:Exactly, it's about the pattern, the consistent daily choices towards a nutritious, anti-inflammatory diet. That's what allows for occasional indulgences without derailing things.
Speaker 1:Are there any redline foods, things that are just consistently bad, even in small amounts?
Speaker 2:Well, while consistency is king, I'd say those processed meats and the artificial sugars. They're probably the closest to a redline. They just consistently fuel that inflammation we want to avoid.
Speaker 1:Got it. And that ties into body weight too, doesn't it? You mentioned inflammation.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Body weight connects directly to fertility outcomes.
Speaker 1:How so Is it just about hitting a certain BMI?
Speaker 2:Not just that simple. No, it's about extremes, being significantly underweight, often from calorie restriction. That can negatively impact things. No it can cause hypothalamic dysfunction. Basically, the brain senses the body doesn't have enough resources to sustain a pregnancy, so it can shut down ovulation.
Speaker 1:Wow, okay, and being overweight.
Speaker 2:Also negatively impacts conception and increases miscarriage risk, likely due to that systemic inflammation and hormonal imbalances. It's a spectrum too. Even subtle ovulation issues can affect the hormonal environment needed for the placenta to grow properly.
Speaker 1:So it's about finding that healthy medium, enough reserves, but not excess inflammation.
Speaker 2:Exactly Supporting that complex hormonal system.
Speaker 1:That really clarifies the why there. Okay, shifting slightly. The next big question people usually have with modern approaches is supplements. This is where it gets really interesting and maybe confusing.
Speaker 2:It can be and a huge disclaimer right up front Supplements are not regulated like medications.
Speaker 1:Right, big difference.
Speaker 2:Huge. You need to do your homework, check the brands, check the ingredients, because sometimes companies add extra herbs.
Speaker 1:Herbs. Why is that a problem?
Speaker 2:Some herbs can have hormone-like effects. They might interfere with reproduction, depending on what they are in your situation. So always check the full ingredient list.
Speaker 1:Good advice. Okay, with that caution in mind, what are the top supplements usually recommended from this modern perspective?
Speaker 2:Right the key ones. First, a prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid.
Speaker 1:For everyone of reproductive age.
Speaker 2:Ideally, yes, yeah, even if you're not actively trying right now. Folic acid is critical for preventing neural tube defects very early on, but it also helps with cell division, ovarian health.
Speaker 1:And you need to build up levels beforehand.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Stores need to be built up for months. Don't wait until you get a positive test.
Speaker 1:Okay, prenatal with folic acid. What else?
Speaker 2:Vitamin D. So many people are deficient and it definitely impacts reproduction. About a thousand IU daily is generally safe and helpful for most.
Speaker 1:Though some might need more.
Speaker 2:Yes, screening can determine. If you need a higher dose, then omega-3 fatty acids.
Speaker 1:For inflammation.
Speaker 2:Yes, great anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, they're critical for fetal brain development. About one gram a day is a good target, often included in prenatals now too.
Speaker 1:Beneficial for things like endometriosis too, right Because of the inflammation.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Very helpful there Okay.
Speaker 1:And the last one that gets a lot of buzz CoQ10.
Speaker 2:Yes, CoQ10. It's vital.
Speaker 1:Why? What does it do?
Speaker 2:It supports the mitochondria, the powerhouses in our cells, crucial for cell energy and division.
Speaker 1:And that relates to fertility. How?
Speaker 2:It's been shown to improve both egg quality and sperm quality. Big impact potential there.
Speaker 1:What's the recommended dose for that?
Speaker 2:For those actively trying to conceive generally 200 milligrams three times a day.
Speaker 1:Three times Okay, does the form matter Ubiquinol versus ubiquinone?
Speaker 2:You know there's debate but honestly, the most important thing is just taking it consistently. Whatever form you'll actually stick with three times a day is the best one for you. Adherence trumps form.
Speaker 1:Okay, that makes sense. Yeah Right, so that covers the modern perspective quite well. Okay, that makes sense yeah Right, so that covers the modern perspective quite well. Okay, now let's shift gears completely.
Speaker 2:Okay To the ancient wisdom.
Speaker 1:Exactly Traditional Chinese medicine. Tcm has its own really unique dietary principles, developed over centuries, originally focused on longevity, overall well-being.
Speaker 2:And it looks at food very differently, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:Totally different lens.
Speaker 2:In TCM dietetics. You've got these two fundamental concepts. First, is qi differently, doesn't it Totally different? Lens In.
Speaker 1:TCM dietetics. You've got these two fundamental concepts. First is chi Chi like energy sort of, but in diet it's often understood more practically as the temperature of the food, not literal temperature but its energetic effect. Example so like a spicy chili soup would be considered energetically hot, whereas something like lemon water might be cold.
Speaker 2:Okay, hot, cold energy. What's the second concept?
Speaker 1:The second is way, which means flavor. Tcm categorizes foods by five basic flavors Sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy.
Speaker 2:And they believed these properties. The temperature and flavor affected health.
Speaker 1:Deeply Ancient practitioners observed correlations for millennia how different foods, with their specific key and way, seem to impact various illnesses or imbalances in the body.
Speaker 2:It's amazing they could figure that out without modern labs. Any examples of that kind of foresight?
Speaker 1:Oh a fantastic one. About 1,500 years ago, tcm doctors noticed something remarkable People living in coastal areas who regularly ate kelp and seaweed. They didn't get goiters nearly as much Goiters like the thyroid thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly. And they even found that giving kelp could help treat existing goiters. This was centuries upon centuries, before anyone knew about iodine or thyroid hormones.
Speaker 1:Wow, just pure observation.
Speaker 2:Incredible clinical observation connecting diet to a specific condition. Really impressive.
Speaker 1:And what's really striking about the PCM approach, compared to maybe some modern diets, is this idea of bio-individuality.
Speaker 2:Crucial concept.
Speaker 1:It's not one size fits all, is it, it seems, profoundly customized.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It's tailored not just to, say, your genetics, but to your current constitution, your lifestyle, stress levels, even the season, and any specific illness or imbalance you're experiencing right now.
Speaker 1:So how do they categorize people? You mentioned constitution.
Speaker 2:Right. They often think in terms of patterns or spectrums. On one end, you might have someone with a predominantly cold and deficient constitution.
Speaker 1:What does that look like?
Speaker 2:Stereotypically maybe thin pale. Feels cold easily, perhaps a bit anemic, often with sluggish or poor digestion, low energy.
Speaker 1:Okay, and the other end.
Speaker 2:The other end might be a warm and hot constitution. Someone who maybe runs warm sweats easily might be a bit heavier. Perhaps enjoys spicy foods or alcohol. Their system tends towards heat, maybe inflammation.
Speaker 1:And most people are somewhere in between.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Many people have a generally moderate constitution but might have pockets of localized heat Think acid reflux, skin rashes, chronic sinus issues or maybe localized cold like cold hands and feet.
Speaker 1:And our lifestyle can push us one way or the other right.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Even if we're naturally one way.
Speaker 2:Precisely this is key. Other right, Even if we're naturally one way. Marc Thiessen, Precisely this is key. Your underlying constitution is one thing, but chronic stress, poor sleep, trauma, even your environment these can significantly shift your current pattern or template. Danielle.
Speaker 1:Pletka. So the diet needs to adapt not just to who you are, but how you are right now, marc.
Speaker 2:Thiessen. That's the essence of it. You're treating the person in their current state, danielle.
Speaker 1:Pletka. Ok, let's make this concrete. Give us an example. Say someone presents with what TCM calls spleen deficiency. What does that mean in more Western terms? Maybe?
Speaker 2:Yeah, good question. Spleen in TCM isn't the physical organ spleen, it's more about the whole digestive function and energy transformation process. Yep, so spleen deficiency often translates to things like low digestive fire, maybe low pancreatic enzymes, low stomach acid, difficulty absorbing nutrients, feeling bloated, tired after eating, maybe loose stools. Your digestive powerhouse is just sluggish.
Speaker 1:Got it. So if someone has that pattern, what's the dietary focus in TCM?
Speaker 2:The core focus is on warm, cooked and easily digestible foods. You want to support that weakened digestifier, not burden it further.
Speaker 1:So things like raw salads or cold smoothies would be bad Generally avoided.
Speaker 2:yes, Raw foods are seen as cold energetically and harder to digest. Same with cold drinks, ice cream.
Speaker 1:What else to?
Speaker 2:avoid Greasy foods, overly sweet foods, excessive sugar or honey. These are seen as dampening and can overwhelm the spleen function. Dairy often falls into this category too, for spleen deficiency.
Speaker 1:Okay, so avoid cold, raw, greasy, overly sweet. What should they eat? Walk us through a sample day.
Speaker 2:Sure. For breakfast maybe congee. That's a warm rice porridge or oatmeal cooked with warming spices like cinnamon or ginger.
Speaker 1:And warm drinks.
Speaker 2:Definitely Ginger tea, chamomile tea, no iced coffee.
Speaker 1:Right Snacks.
Speaker 2:Warming things, maybe some walnuts or almonds. Steamed sweet potato is great. It's considered very nourishing for the spleen, pancreas system and TCM.
Speaker 1:Okay, lunch.
Speaker 2:Maybe a nourishing soup, chicken or tofu broth with root vegetables like carrots, maybe some shiitake mushrooms, goji berries. Pair it with steamed rice or quinoa. Some lightly cooked leafy greens spinach, chard, kale, bok choy, maybe stir-fried with garlic.
Speaker 1:It's pretty good Afternoon snack.
Speaker 2:Maybe some cooked fruit like baked apples or pears with cinnamon, maybe a tiny touch of honey if needed.
Speaker 1:And dinner.
Speaker 2:Similar principles Sauteed meats or fish, more rice or grains, maybe some shredded chicken, lightly cooked squash like zucchini or pumpkin, and finish the day with another warm herbal tea licorice or ginger could be nice.
Speaker 1:It's a very different approach, focusing on temperature and ease of digestion. So if we were to pull out, say, four key general guidelines from TCM Dietetics for overall well-being, what would they be?
Speaker 2:Okay, four general takeaways. One focus more on warm and cooked meals Soups, stews, porridges like congee, easier on digestion. Two include plenty of naturally sweet and neutral foods. Think root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, winter squashes, rice oats. These are seen as nourishing the center.
Speaker 1:Three.
Speaker 2:Use warming spices judiciously Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper Helps digestion and circulation. And four Actively avoid or minimize cold, raw, greasy and damp-forming foods. That often includes limiting dairy ice cream, excessive sugar and too many raw vegetables, especially if your digestion is weak.
Speaker 1:Fascinating. It's a whole different framework.
Speaker 2:It really is Focus on balance and individual needs.
Speaker 1:So we've journeyed through modern science and ancient wisdom. What does this all mean for you? Listening right now?
Speaker 2:Yeah, bringing it all together.
Speaker 1:It's striking, isn't it, how, these two profoundly different perspectives, they land on some similar conclusions.
Speaker 2:They really do. Both emphasize avoiding processed sugars, processed meats.
Speaker 1:Right. Both highlight that it's the daily consistent choices that matter most, not the occasional slip up.
Speaker 2:The power of the pattern.
Speaker 1:And both, maybe most importantly, really underscore how crucial individualization is, whether it's based on your specific nutrient needs or your TCM constitution.
Speaker 2:Exactly. They seem different, but they're incredibly complementary, I think. I'd say One lens focuses on the biochemistry right, the specific nutrients, the hormones, the inflammatory pathways.
Speaker 1:The what's and how on a cellular level Right.
Speaker 2:The other lens looks at the energetic properties of food, that key in way, and how it interacts with your unique constitutional type, your current state of balance or imbalance.
Speaker 1:So one is micro, one is macro energetic.
Speaker 2:You could sort of see it that way, and it just reinforces that idea. Knowledge is powerful, but it's most valuable when you understand it in the context of you, your unique body, your life right now.
Speaker 1:Applying it personally. That really empowers you to tailor things effectively.
Speaker 2:Exactly, knowledge isn't just abstract.
Speaker 1:So, as you've been listening, what stands out to you? How might these insights, from either perspective or both, apply to your own health journey? Maybe just the choices you make at the grocery store or planning meals? It's worth reflecting on definitely as we wrap up this deep dive. For me, the real aha moments are well. First, just how interconnected everything is sleep, diet, inflammation, hormones it's all one system can, can't isolate one part.
Speaker 1:And second the sheer power of those small, consistent daily choices. Skipping the sugary drink, getting that extra hour of sleep it's not trivial, it's literally building the foundation.
Speaker 2:It really adds up.
Speaker 1:And seeing how ancient wisdom, through a completely different observational lens, often arrives at such similar conclusions as modern science, that's just profound, isn't it?
Speaker 2:It really validates looking at health from multiple angles.
Speaker 1:So here's a final thought to leave you with something to maybe ponder on your own. How might truly understanding your unique body whether you use the lens of modern testing and biomarkers or the lens of ancient constitutional patterns like in TCM, or maybe even a blend of both how might that deeper understanding empower you? Empower you to make even more intentional, more beneficial choices day to day, choices that really align with your deepest health goals, whatever they may be?
Speaker 2:A powerful question to consider.