Taoist Diet: Fact vs. Myth ☯️
What is the "Taoist Diet"?
This is a very common, and very smart, question. Do Taoists follow a specific diet? The answer is confusing. It is YES... and it is NO. This is not a joke. This is a fact about the philosophy. You are right to be confused. This guide will explain the truth. We will find the "hidden" traps. And we will show you what "Taoist diet" really means.
The "No" Answer (The "Modern" Taoist) 🧘
This is the first, simple answer. For 99% of "modern" Taoists... ...(people who just follow the philosophy)... ...the answer is NO. There is no "Taoist Bible." There is no "commandment." There is no single, mandatory "diet" for all. (Like "Kosher" for Judaism). ((Or "Halal" for Islam). ( The #1 goal of Taoism is simple. It is to live in Harmony. To live in "The Tao" (The Way). To "go with the flow." (This is "Wu Wei"). ( A "modern" Taoist... ...just eats in a "harmonious" way. This means:
- Eating in moderation.
- Eating "seasonal" foods.
- Eating "balanced" foods.
- Listening to your own body.
The "YES" Answer (The "Monastic" Taoist) 📜
This is the other answer. The "yes" answer. This is the "pro-level" answer. For traditional, "ascetic" Taoists... ...(like monks, priests, or "immortality-seekers")... ...the answer is 100% YES. They do have a diet. And it is extremely specific. And very "strict." It is not just a "diet." It is a spiritual tool. Why? The goal is not "weight loss." The goal is longevity. Or spiritual immortality. The "diet" is the tool... ...to "purify" the body. To "purify" the qi (life-force). And to achieve this goal. This "monastic" diet has two main rules. (And they are very weird!). ( 1. Avoid the "Five Grains" (Bigu). 🌾🚫 2. Avoid the "Five Pungent Roots." 🧅🚫 Let's explain these "traps."
Rule 1: "Bigu" (Avoiding Grains) 🌾🚫
This is the most famous "Taoist diet." It is called "Bigu." B"Bigu" literally means "avoiding grains." This is an "anti-grain" diet. This is the core "immortality" diet.
What are the "Grains"?
This is the "staple" food of China. The "Five Grains" are:
- Wheat
- Rice
- Millet
- Soybean
- Barley / Sorghum
Why Avoid Grains? (The "Three Corpses") 🐛
This is the real "pro-level" answer. It is a "supernatural" reason. According to the "Taoist Canon"... ...(the holy books)... ...your body is "infested." It is infested with "demons." Or "parasites." They are called the "Three Corpses." (Or the "Three Worms"). ( They are evil spirits. They live inside your body. 1. The "Old Blue" Corpse: Lives in your brain. (In the "Palace of Mud"). (It makes you "blind" and "deaf." And makes your "hair fall out." 2. The "White Maiden" Corpse: Lives in your chest (your heart). She causes "heart disease." And "lung disease." 3. The "Bloody Scion" Corpse: Lives in your stomach (your belly). He causes "gut disease." And "arthritis."
What do Grains have to do with it?
This is the "trap." The Three Corpses are "demons." But they are also "physical." They survive by eating your qi (life-force). But they feed on DECAY. The "Taoist" belief... ...is that "grains" (especially wheat/rice)... ...rot and "decay" in your gut. This "fecal decay"... ...is the FOOD for the Three Corpses! The "grains" are what keep the demons alive. The grains are "dirty" and "muddy." They "cloud" your qi. The Goal: The goal of "Bigu" (no grains)... ...is to STARVE the Three Corpses. If you stop eating grains... ...the "worms" have no food. They die. They "exit" your body. Your body is now "purified." Your qi is "pure." You are "light." You can now achieve immortality.
So... What Did They Eat?
This is the other question. If they did not eat rice... ...what did they eat? Did they eat "meat"? (Like a "Keto" diet?). ( No. This was an "ascetic" diet. It was a "supernatural" diet. They "stopped" eating "normal" food. And they "started" eating "pure" food. This "pure" food was:
- Herbs: (e.g., Ginseng, Astragalus). (
- Nuts: (e.g., Walnuts, Pine nuts). (
- "Magic" Mushrooms: (The "Lingzhi" (Reishi) mushroom. The "Mushroom of Immortality"). (
Rule 2: The "Five Pungent Roots" 🧅🚫
This is the second "monastic" rule. It is also a "Buddhist" rule. (They share this idea). ( This is the "no-flavor" diet. A strict Taoist monk... ...will NOT eat the "Five Pungent Roots." (Or "Wuhun"). (
What are the "Five Pungent Roots"?
This is the "allium" family. It is the "flavor" of all modern food. And it is BANNED. The "No" List is:
- Garlic 🚫
- Onions (All types) 🚫
- Leeks 🚫
- Scallions / Chives 🚫
- Shallots 🚫
Why Avoid Garlic & Onions? (The "Qi" Problem)
This is the "why." It is not because they are "bad" for you. (They are very "healthy" for normal people). ( It is because they are "agitating." These "pungent" roots are too strong. They are too flavorful. They "excite" the senses. This "excitement" disturbs your qi. It makes your "energy" chaotic. The "Belief": Garlic (and chives) excites the heart. (It is "heating" and "aphrodisiacal"). (This "excites" your libido. (A "sin"). ( The "Belief": Onions (and leeks) excite the liver/lungs. (They are "sharp" and "fiery"). (This "excites" your anger. (A "sin"). ( A monk must be 100% CALM. Their goal is "meditation." You cannot meditate... ...if you are "angry" (from onions)... ...or "lustful" (from garlic). ( So, these "agitating" plants are banned. They are "un-pure." They are "anti-meditation."
Rule 3: The "Vegetarian" Question 🥬
This is the final, big question. Is Taoism "vegetarian"? The answer is: "Sometimes." Again, it is not a "commandment." It is a "philosophy."
The "Pro" (Why Many Taoists ARE Vegetarian)
Most "monastic" (monk) schools... ...are 100% vegetarian. (Or vegan). ( Why? The "Tao" is Harmony. The "Tao" is "compassion." Killing an animal... ...is a violent act. It is an "un-harmonious" act. Eating "meat" (a dead body)... ...brings "violent" or "dead" qi... ...into your own body. This is NOT "in balance." This is "bad" for your energy. So, they avoid it.
The "Con" (Why Some Taoists are NOT Vegetarian)
This is the "modern" or "lay" person. And the "TCM" (Traditional Chinese Medicine) link. In "TCM," the goal is BALANCE. (Yin and Yang). ( Some "foods" are "Yin" (cooling). (e.g., Cucumber, Watermelon, Tofu). ( Some "foods" are "Yang" (heating). (e.g., Ginger, Chili, Lamb, Beef). ( In this philosophy... ...a "sick" person can be "fixed" with food. If a person is "too cold" (Yin)... ...the doctor will "prescribe"... ...a "hot" (Yang) food. (This might be lamb or beef). ( In this case, eating meat... ...is not "un-harmonious." It is the tool... ...to CREATE harmony! To "balance" the "cold" person. This is a complex, "medical" view.
The "Modern" Taoist Diet (The "How-To") ☯️
This is the "takeaway" for a normal person. You are not an "immortal" monk. How do you "eat like a Taoist"? The goal is Harmony & Balance.
1. Eat with "Wu Wei" (Moderation)
"Wu Wei" is "effortless action." In eating, this means moderation. Do not "force" food. Do not "over-stuff" yourself. (This is "violence" to your body). (Do not "starve" yourself. (This is also "violence"). ( Just eat until you are satisfied. Eat "naturally."
2. Eat in "Balance" (Yin/Yang)
This is the "TCM" idea. Do not only eat "hot" foods. (Chili, meat, fried food). ( Do not only eat "cold" foods. (Raw salads, ice cream, bananas). ( Eat a balance of both. Eat "cooked" foods. Eat "neutral" foods (like rice).
3. Eat "Seasonally" (Harmony with Nature)
This is a huge part of Taoism. Live in "harmony" with the season. In the summer (hot/Yang)... ...eat "cooling" (Yin) foods. (e.g., Watermelon, Cucumber). ( In the winter (cold/Yin)... ...eat "heating" (Yang) foods. (e.g., Root vegetables, stews, ginger). ( This is "living" in the Tao.
4. Eat "Mindfully" (The "Qi" of Food)
This is the real "secret." HOW you eat... ...is more important than what you eat. Do not eat while stressed. (e.g., in your car, in a meeting). ( Do not eat while angry. (e.g., during a fight). ( Why? Your "stress" qi... ...is "infused" into your food. You are "eating your stress." This is terrible for your health. You must eat in a calm, mindful, grateful state.
Conclusion: "Harmony" is the Only Rule
So, does Taoism have a diet? No. There is no "one" diet. The only "rule" is Harmony. (The Tao). ( For a "modern" person, this means:
- Moderation
- Balance (Yin/Yang)
- Eating Seasonally
- Eating Mindfully (Calmly)
- NO Grains (Bigu): (To "starve" the "Three Corpses"). ( 🌾🚫
- NO Pungent Roots: (Garlic/Onions. They "agitate" the qi). ( 🧅🚫
- (Often) NO Meat: (It is "violent" and "un-harmonious"). (