Welcome to this fifth and final week of the medicinal cooking collective challenge! We are cooking according to the Chinese 5 Elements, and this week we focus on the Water element which is associated with the Kidneys and Bladder and resonates with the energy of the winter, wisdom and contemplation and the vastness of the ocean. The Water element is associated with the colour blue and black, a salty flavour, and the feelings of fear. When the kidneys are out of balance they can be helped by eating foods that embody these traits, and help you to restore balance to the body. These days many people are dehydrated and have stressed kidneys due to excessive sugary, caffeine, and alcoholic drinks. Most people also don’t drink enough water during the day.

Typical foods that are good for the kidneys and bladder include the following:

Note that not all items need to be blue or black, and usually foods that have the same shape as the organ are also very beneficial, e.g. Kidney Beans!

Blueberries and other blue fruits such as Black Raspberries and Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Juniper, Most Beans and Legumes, Lemon/Lime, Grapes, Plum, Date, Pomegranate, Jasmine, Aloe Vera, Marjoram, Clove, Liquorice, Nettle, Parsley, Caraway, Rosemary, Walnut, Chestnut, Coconut water, Cashew nuts, Celery, Watercress, Potato, Asparagus, Aubergine, Beetroot, Agar, Seaweed, Kelp, Quinoa, Oats, Pumpkin Seed, Wild Rice, Millet, Shoyu, Soya Sauce, Black Olives, and Soybean.

It is up to you if you focus on the colour blue & black, a salty taste, or the medicinal herbs and spices that you know of that can assist the kidneys and bladder. The ideal dish would incorporate all of these, for example a Blue Berry Smoothie with a Beetroot & Kidney Bean Burger and Taboule Salad. It is up to you if you make one dish or a two or even three course meal. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us! Please do comment to let know if you plan to take part this week!

Posting Guidelines

This meal should contain ingredients that are known to help the lungs or digestion. Your knowledge and imagination is the limit, there are no rules, only guidelines!

1. The predominant colour of the meal should be black or blue and there should be a salty element to it. You can also use any ingredients that support the healthy functioning of the kidneys and bladder.

2. Please post using the tag #medicinal-cooking so that it is easy to find your post.

3. Please try out the recipes yourself and include photos of your dish(es) and how you made it.

4. Please explain in your post how this meal is beneficial to the Kidneys and Bladder.

5. Please post before or on Sunday 12th August. If you miss this you may not be added to my recipe post, although I often add posts that are a bit late.

Please do comment if you have any questions!

Check our previous week's here

The Medicinal Cooking Collective: The Heart / Fire Element - Recipe Collection #1

The Medicinal Cooking Collective Recipe Book #2: The Liver / Wood Element

 

The Medicinal Cooking Collective Recipe Book #4: Cooking with the Metal Element for the Lungs and Large Intestine

 

The Medicinal Cooking Collective Recipe Book #3: The Stomach & Spleen / Earth Element

 

More About The Five Elements

We are cooking each week to support one of the five elements. According to the Ancient Chinese, all things in the world can be divided into five vibrational families and the elements of Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. In the body, these Five Elements represent the five major organs - The kidneys, the Liver, the Heart, the Spleen/Stomach/Pancreas and the Lungs - all of which are necessary for survival. Usually one of these organs is stronger than the others giving extra energy to that organ and helping people to behave in certain ways and clearly influences personality and lifestyle choices - things like food preferences, fun, fashion, decorating, sleeping, playing, etc.. And, one of the organs is usually slightly deficient and needs building up. When you are strong in one element, you usually need to build up the other elements to find balance.

The five elements are

fire (火)
metal (金)
wood (木)
water (水)
earth (土)

When our organs are in balance with each other we can experience good health. Our organs can be supported by eating foods that nourish and bring balance to the body. You can see in the chart below how the elements correspond to the organs of the body, what emotions they are related to, as well as the colour and tastes that can be eaten to bring them into balance.

In Chinese medicine and cooking, it’s believed that if you are weak or ill in certain parts of your body or organs, you should consume certain colours/elements of food to help you feel better and improve your health.

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