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What Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Say About Skipping Meals?
Skipping breakfast and other meals may have been popularised in modern routines, but TCM considers it a major threat to digestion, energy, and mental clarity. Here's how meal timing really shapes your wellbeing.
Written by: Pippa Thackeray
Written on: June 24, 2025
Updated on: June 24, 2025
Written by: Pippa Thackeray | Written on: June 24, 2025 | Updated on: June 24, 2025
Quick Read
- TCM views the timing and method of eating as crucial for digestion and overall health.
- Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can weaken the digestive fire, leading to fatigue and Qi deficiency.
- Routine eating habits, aligned with the body's natural rhythms, are favored over restrictive diets like intermittent fasting.
- TCM recommends avoiding cold and raw foods, which can introduce dampness and cold into the digestive system.
- Moderation in eating, aiming for 70% fullness, and incorporating bitter flavors can support balanced blood sugar levels.
Contents
- 1. Defining ‘digestive fire’ in TCM
- 2. The King's breakfast and Qi
- 3. Routine over restriction
- 4. What about intermittent fasting?
- 5. Ditch the cold stuff?
- 6. “Eat to 70% full”
