Blake Faulkner 
Planetary Diet
This is the diet recommended by Oriental Medicine. The following foods are healthy for the digestive fire.
Whole Grains
Grains should constitute 40 - 60% of our overall diet.
Whole grains have sustained our evolution for thousands of years
on the planet. In order to ascertain their wholeness, these are grains that are cooked
generally for 40-60 minutes. They are also eaten by chewing well, in order to induce the
start of digestion in the mouth. You can find them also in healthy whole breads, but the
superior method of intake is in their whole cooked form.
Examples of Whole Grains:
- Amaranth
It is bitter and if not palatable may be used baked as a bread ingredient - Barley
Especially beneficial to the spleen - Buckwheat
- Corn
Both the "grain" and "vegetable" - Millet
Especially beneficial to the spleen - Kamut
A more ancient relative to wheat, most not allergic to - Oat
This is the groat type, which is a whole form. Steel cut oat is less whole.
Oat is especially beneficial to the spleen - Quinoa
Pronounced "keen wa" - Rice
Whole brown. Especially beneficial to the spleen - Rye
Especially benefits the spleen
Vegetables
Vegetables should constitute 30-40% of overall diet.
Vegetables should be fresh and lightly cooked/steamed. Root vegetables since they grow in the earth are especially beneficial to the spleen.
Examples of Vegetables:
- Parsnip
- Rutabaga
- Collard Green
- Chard
- Winter Squash
- Bamboo Shoot
- Pumpkin
- Eggplant
- Artichoke/Jerusalem Artichoke
- Calabash
- Yellow Squash
- Carrot
- Sweet Potato/Yam
- Onion, Leek
Legumes
Legumes should constitute about 10-20% of the overall diet.
Legumes have also sustained our evolution for thousands of years, and are considered part of the protein
group.
Examples of Legumes:
- Black Soybean
- Fava Bean
- Garbanzo Bean (chickpea)
- Peas
- Soy Bean
Unless well-cooked, can inhibit the digestive (enzyme process)
To avoid this, try soy forms of tofu, tempeh, miso, soy sauce instead - Kamut
A more ancient relative to wheat, most not allergic to - Oat
This is the groat type, which is a whole form. Steel cut oat is less whole.
Oat is especially beneficial to the spleen - Quinoa
Pronounced "keen wa" - Rice
Whole brown. Especially beneficial to the spleen - Rye
Especially benefits the spleen
Meat
Meat should constitute about 10-20% of the overall diet.
Meat should be lean, and preferably from organic sources. Small amounts of meat is
especially healing for the spleen in soups, stews, and congee. Remember, a small amount of meat is tonifying, while large amounts
are toxic. Most Americans eat toxic amounts.
Some women may find they incorporate meat into their bodies better just at the end of their menstrual flow until ovulation, and then use meat sparingly at the latter part of their cycle.
Please note that because of cultural influences the average American eats toxic amounts of beef. One need not ingest that much to obtain a tonifying or healing amount.