Blood-building foods in contemporary Chinese populations

According to ancient Chinese medicine, "weak blood" is a yin condition that occurs during growth, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and old age. Treatment requires use of special foods that are "yang" in nature. This article investigated the use of such blood-building foods in seven contemporary Chinese populations throughout the world. Analysis of questionnaires from 379 respondents indicated that high-protein foods, such as pork liver and other meats, were recommended most often. Although these and other foods recommended were primarily yang, only 8.1% of respondents considered weak blood a "yin" condition. Comparison of 717 responses concerning foods that should be used to treat weak blood showed more similarities than differences between Chinese populations in different parts of the world. Strong adherence to cultural practices was also evident. Self-diagnosis and self-prescription are common modes of treating symptoms in the Chinese and other cultures. Knowledge of beneficial food-related health practices can enable practitioners to counsel their clients more effectively and to develop bilingual educational materials that incorporate familiar cultural practices.