Food Energetics for Dogs
What is Food Energetics?Food Energetics is a principle of traditional Chinese medicine that relates to how specific proteins, and other foods, affect the body. All foods have a nature and flavor, and pet parents can use the principles of food energetics for comfort and healing when formulating meals and choosing herbs and treats for their dogs.
“Hot” Dog vs. “Cold” Dog
I discovered food energetics when I stumbled across a website that discussed “hot” and “cold” dogs. I learned that one of my dogs is classified as a “hot” dog, and this changed the proteins and treats that I feed my dogs.
Symptoms of Yin Deficiency (HOT)
- they seek out cool places to sleep, rest
- they may be warm to the touch
- they pant even when at rest
- they suffer from allergies
- they may have red skin and eyes
- they may show signs of anxiety
Symptoms of Yang Deficiency (COLD)
- they seek out warm places to sleep, rest
- they are relaxed and calm
- they love blankets and snuggling; they'll have no trouble sleeping in bed with their humans (won't get overheated)
- they exhibit a lack of appetite at times
- they aren't fans of playing in the snow
Can't Tell if Your Dog is “Hot” or “Cold?”
We have one “hot” dog, but our other dogs are… “neutral?” Our other dogs don't exhibit any of the above symptoms, which I believe means that they don't have any serious health concerns. I use food energetics on all of my dogs seasonally, to treat minor health issues and to prevent serious health issues. Keep reading for more details.
Food Energetics Chart for Dogs
This is a basic chart to be used as a quick source when determining the energy of a particular food. For a more comprehensive chart, I highly recommend this physical chart (I have one in our kitchen). Please note that some items fall into two areas. How an animal was raised and how plant-based foods are grown can impact their energetics.
According to Dr. Judy Morgan in Yin and Yang Nutrition for Dogs, inflammatory conditions produce heat within the body. For these dogs, we should reach for cooling foods (Yin tonics) when formulating their diets. The following can lead to excess heat in the body:
- excessive consumption of energetically hot food – kibble, Yang foods
- hyperactive nature
- loss of internal cooling mechanisms
- seasonal weather changes
- viral or bacteria infection
Examples of hot conditions: acute fever or infection, aggression, arthritis, constipation, Cushing's disease (early stages), diabetes, diarrhea with blood or mucus, dry cough, hepatitis, hyperactivity, IBD, increased thirst, pancreatitis, restlessness, skin infections/hot spots
According to Dr. Judy Morgan in Yin and Yang Nutrition for Dogs, energetically cold dogs are Yang deficient and they would benefit from a warming diet (Yang tonics). Warming and Hot foods generate heat within the body and will be helpful for these dogs. A Yang deficiency can develop through:
- aging
- excessive consumption of cold or raw foods
- excessive liquid intake
- exposure to cold weather
- inactivity
- having a weak constitution
- obesity
- poor diet and nutrition
Examples of cold conditions: anemia, chronic digestive problems, chronic kidney disease, generalized weakness, hypothyroidism (later stages), incontinence
Cold Foods
- Vegetables: cucumber, dandelion leaf, dandelion root, nori, seaweed
- Fruits: cranberry, melon, watermelon
- Herbs and Spices: kelp
- Dairy: yogurt
Cooling Foods
- Vegetables: asparagus, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), broccoli, celery, lettuce, mushrooms (button), spinach, summer squash, swiss chard
- Fruits: apple, banana, blueberry, honey, mango, pear, persimmon, strawberry
- Herbs and Spices: alfalfa, nettle
- Oils: sesame oil
- Nuts and Seeds: chia seeds
- Seafood: herring, mussel, oyster, whitefish
- Meat: alligator, beef (grass-fed), duck, goose (wild), pork, rabbit, turkey (wild)
- Dairy: duck egg
The preparation of food can change the energetics. Raw, chilled, steamed, and poached is cooling.
- Vegetables: cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, green beans, shiitake mushroom, sweet potato, yam
- Fruits: apple, avocado, papaya, pineapple
- Herbs and Spices: bee pollen
- Oils and such: olive oil, honey
- Nuts and Seeds: almond, flax, peanut, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed
- Seafood: carp, mackerel, salmon (wild), sardine, squid, trout
- Meat: beef, beef liver, beef tripe, bison, pork, pork liver, quail, turkey (wild)
- Dairy: cheese, chicken egg (pasture raised)
The preparation of food can change the energetics. Boiled is neutral.
- Vegetables: bell pepper, Brussels sprout, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, winter squash
- Fruits: blackberry, raspberry
- Herbs and Spices: basil, garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and turmeric
- Oils and such: coconut oil
- Nuts and Seeds: cashew, coconut
- Seafood: anchovy, salmon (farmed)
- Meat: beef, chicken, chicken liver, pheasant, pork liver, turkey (farmed)
- Dairy: raw goat's milk
The preparation of food can change the energetics. Stir-fried and sauteed is mildly warming; baked is warming.
- Vegetables: garlic
- Herbs and Spices: cinnamon, black pepper – ingredients in golden paste
- Seafood: prawns, shrimp, trout
- Meat: emu, goat, lamb
The preparation of food can change the energetics. Roasted and grilled is hot.
Traditional Chinese Medicine also states that each food has at least one of five flavors: sweet, pungent, salty, sour, and bitter. An excess of one flavor can lead to imbalances or deficiencies in the Qi (pronounced Chee), Yin and Yang, or the organ systems.
Sweet foods support the Spleen/Digestive System. They strengthen, moisten, and help tonify deficiencies.
- Vegetables: asparagus, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, green bean, kale, mushroom (button), pumpkin, spinach, squash, swiss chard, yam
- Herbs and Spices: dandelion greens
- Seafood: anchovy, carp, herring, mackerel, sardine, squid, tuna, whitefish
- Meat: beef, beef liver, chicken, chicken liver, duck, goose, lamb, pheasant, pork, pork liver, quail, rabbit, turkey
- Dairy: butter, cheese, egg, goat's milk, yogurt
Pungent foods support the Lung. They disperse stagnation and promote flow.
- Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, bell pepper
- Herbs and Spices: basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, turmeric
Salty foods support the Kidney. They moisten, soften, and detoxify.
- Vegetables: alfalfa sprout, kelp
- Herbs and Spices: dandelion greens, nettle, parsley
- Seafood: anchovy, mussel, oyster, sardine, squid
- Meat: duck, pork, pork kidney
Sour foods support the Liver. They stimulate absorption and contraction, and they help break down fat.
- Vegetables: bok choy
- Seafood: trout
- Meat: pheasant
- Dairy: cheese, yogurt
Bitter foods support the Heart. They drain and counteract dampness.
- Vegetables: alfalfa sprout, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, kale
- Herbs and Spices: basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, turmeric
- Meat: pork liver
5 Ways I Use Food Energetics with My Dogs
Food energetics seems simple at first, but the food we feed our dogs does many things. I no longer avoid proteins; instead, I work to balance them with other foods.
1 – I Don't Feed “Hot” Proteins in the Summer
Our summers aren't as hot as other areas of the country, but we have some +90 F days in August. Since eating hot food makes you hot, I don't feed hot proteins – lamb, venison – during the summer. I would make an exception if I had a “cold” dog.
I save the hot proteins for the cold winter months.
2 – I Do Feed “Hot/Warming” Proteins to Dry Up Hot Spots
Although I prefer not to feed “hot” proteins during the summer, if one of my dogs is showing signs of developing a hot spot or a yeast overgrowth, I'll add warming or hot proteins to their meals to help dry up the dampness.
3 – I Feed “Cooling/Neutral” Proteins to Soothe Allergies
Rodrigo has environmental allergies that flare up in the spring and fall seasons. So I feed cooling and neutral proteins, limiting warming proteins and saving hot proteins for the winter. Hot proteins aggravate inflammation; allergies and arthritis are inflammatory conditions.
4 – I Feed “Cooling” Proteins to Soothe Anxiety
I give my dogs CBD oil to treat anxiety and inflammation. When my dogs need additional support (Fourth of July, I'm going out of town, etc.), I'll feed cooling foods or treats. Every little bit helps.
5 – I Use “Cooling” Foods to Cool “Hot” Foods
I used to avoid feeding Rodrigo “hot” or “warming” proteins. Today, I mainly feed these proteins to him in the winter. During the rest of the year, I'll add cooling proteins to the meal prep to energetically cool down the hot/warming proteins.