3. Chinese Dietary Therapy

Compiled by Joseph Brady MSTCM, L.Ac., Dipl. OM

Contact: taichiproj@earthlink.net | joe.brady@faculty.ccmu.edu

1529 York Street, Denver, CO 80206

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Cheryl Wheeler and Jacqui Shumway for their invaluable assistance in verifying and formatting references. Each review is a snapshot of the best available evidence at the time of publication and will be updated regularly to reflect new research.

Author’s Note on AI Use

Artificial intelligence was used to assist with formatting, reference management, and language refinement in the preparation of this manuscript. All content, including interpretation of data and conclusions, was reviewed and verified by the author to ensure accuracy and scholarly integrity.

Introduction

Chinese Dietary Therapy (CDT), or shi liao, is a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that integrates food selection, preparation, and timing into preventive and therapeutic care. Based on the principles of Yin–Yang, Five Elements, and the homology of medicine and food (yao shi tong yuan), CDT prescribes foods not only for nutritional value but also for energetic properties and organ system effects (Wu & Liang, 2018; Zhao et al., 2021).

Historical and Theoretical Framework

CDT has been practiced for over 3,000 years, with foundational guidance from classical texts such as the Huang Di Nei Jing (Ho, 1993). Foods are classified by thermal nature (hot, warm, neutral, cool, cold), flavor (sweet, pungent, salty, sour, bitter), and organ affinities, allowing practitioners to match diets to seasonal cycles, constitutional patterns, and disease syndromes (Kastner, 2004; Liu et al., 1995).

Evidence from Observational and Clinical Research

The most comprehensive modern evidence comes from Niu et al. (2025), a systematic review of 99 studies examining Traditional Chinese Diet (TCD) patterns. High adherence—characterized by whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and limited meat—was associated with reduced obesity risk and improved metabolic profiles. Evidence for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer prevention was mixed due to heterogeneity in definitions and study designs.

Narrative and targeted reviews report benefits in specific populations. Zou (2016) identified 38 commonly recommended antihypertensive foods, while Hu (2012) and Deng et al. (2012) describe advantages in diabetes management, including improved glycemic control. Lee, Tsai, and Chiou (2010) noted positive outcomes in elderly care, particularly for digestive and general vitality support.

Methodological Challenges

Most CDT research remains observational, with few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and limited standardized protocols (Niu et al., 2025; Yuan et al., 2024). The recently developed Dietotherapy Intention, Evaluation, and Harm Tracking (DIET) pathway offers a methodological framework for assessing efficacy and adverse effects in food-medicine interventions (Yuan et al., 2024).

Integration with Modern Nutrition Science

Contemporary approaches integrate CDT with biomedical tools such as metabolomics and microbiome profiling to validate mechanisms and personalize dietary prescriptions (Zhao et al., 2021). Emerging research advocates for functional foods and age-specific nutrition guidelines grounded in TCM principles (Li et al., 2024).

Safety

CDT is generally safe, emphasizing whole foods and moderation. Safety depends on practitioner expertise in matching foods to constitution and avoiding contraindicated items for specific conditions (Wu & Liang, 2018).

Key References (APA 7th, GRADE-Ordered)

Moderate Quality

Niu, J., Li, B., Zhang, Q., Chen, G., & Papadaki, A. (2025). Exploring the traditional Chinese diet and its association with health status: A systematic review. Nutrition Reviews, 83(2), e237–e256. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae013

Low–Moderate Quality

Zou, P. (2016). Traditional Chinese medicine, food therapy, and hypertension control: A narrative review of Chinese literature. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 44(8), 1639–1671. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X16500889

Ni Y, Wu X, Yao W, Zhang Y, Chen J, Ding X. Evidence of traditional Chinese medicine for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: from molecular mechanisms to clinical efficacy. Pharm Biol. 2024 Dec;62(1):592-606. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2024.2374794. Epub 2024 Jul 19.

Lee, Y. Y., Tsai, C. C., & Chiou, C. P. (2010). Traditional Chinese medicine dietary regimens for the elderly. The Journal of Nursing (China), 57(2), 11–16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20401863/

Wu, Q., & Liang, X. (2018). Food therapy and medical diet therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Clinical Nutrition Experimental, 18, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yclnex.2018.01.001

Emerging

Yuan, L., Chen, J., Yuan, X., Zhou, J., Xu, S., Zhu, W., & Zhou, X. (2024). Guidance on assessing efficacy and harms in traditional Chinese medicine dietotherapy: Introducing the Dietotherapy Intention, Evaluation, and Harm Tracking (DIET) pathway. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 67, 102367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2024.102367

Li, H., Zhu, W., Chen, X. F., Shi, Q., Wang, F., Liu, Z., … & Huang, L. (2024). Guidelines for traditional dietary care in autumn and winter. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 49(18), 4801–4810. DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20240126.101

Zhao, X., Tan, X., Shi, H., & Xia, D. (2021). Nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): A systems theoretical perspective. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(2), 267–273. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00737-w