Eating healthy does not guarantee health. Ancient Chinese physicians understood that nutrition is essential to healing, but they also recognized that it’s not just about what we eat. The real key lies in distinguishing need from want, and understanding what, when, and how much the body can truly use. Healthy eating is far more nuanced than most people realize — and understanding that nuance can make all the difference.
Dr. Bo‑Shih Ni explains it clearly: “People mistakenly think if they eat healthy food, drink more water, and take vitamins, they will be healthy. Not so. Healthy food is good only when you need it. Eating when you want but not when you need causes trouble. The key is need and want.”
Even the healthiest foods — organic kale, wild salmon, fresh fruit — can burden the digestive system if eaten without true hunger. Over time, this strain weakens the gastrointestinal tract, reduces nutrient absorption, and contributes to imbalance and poor immunity.
Many Westerners assume they can eat whatever they want, whenever they want, in any quantity, without consequence. In many Asian cultures, this is viewed as unwise — even disrespectful to the natural rhythms of the body. Modern society often looks to technology for answers, yet the body itself offers the clearest guidance. Do you really need the entire entrée, salad, and dessert? At what point does fullness signal “enough”? Healing requires choosing need over want — and that choice is an active one.
To be clear, consistently poor food choices — fried, fatty, overly sweet, artificial, or heavily processed foods — can create illness. Fresh, naturally grown foods are always preferable. But context matters. If you were starving in the desert, even “unhealthy” food would sustain you. Hunger is the body’s signal that it is ready to receive nourishment. Not hungry at breakfast? Consider how much you ate the night before.
TCM teaches that internal organs naturally weaken with age. This is why eating patterns that worked in youth may no longer serve us later in life. Listening to appetite cues becomes increasingly important. Taste alone should not dictate intake. A useful principle is: “Stop when it tastes best.” Eating with calm thoughts, without screens or emotional stress, supports better digestion and absorption.
How is your digestion?
• Do you have two to three well‑formed stools daily?
• Do you feel bloated or look “pregnant” after meals?
• Are your hands and feet unusually cold or hot?
These may be signs of a sluggish digestive system or impaired nutrient absorption. Many people with constipation, reflux, diarrhea, or IBS rely on medications that mask symptoms while continuing eating habits that aggravate the problem. This cycle is counterproductive.
Excess intake, poor‑quality foods, imbalanced meals, and unwise eating habits weaken both digestion and immunity. And importantly, even healthy foods are not universally healthy for everyone. For example, citrus and tropical fruits like bananas can further weaken individuals with compromised digestion.
This simple yet profound wisdom isn’t commonly taught in acupuncture schools and isn’t easily found online. It originates from The Yellow Emperor’s Outer Canon, a medical text lost for nearly 2,000 years. Dr. Ni has been fortunate to receive these teachings through generations of master physicians.
Patients come to our clinic for one reason: to feel better. Eating well is foundational — but it requires effort, because “talk does not cook rice.” Those who follow these principles often experience meaningful improvements and greater potential for long‑term vitality.
Happiness is shaped by choices. Choose wisely what you consume.
