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The *Analects* states: "Do not eat too much," and also: "Seek not satiety in food." This means that food should not be pursued for quantity, but rather贵在 moderation (节), to preserve the harmonious Qi (Chonghe) and comply with nourishing practices. If one greedily seeks life by pursuing fullness, it leads to obstruction of food, difficulty in digestion, and merely accumulating hidden injuries, thereby inviting disease. Generally, eating until overly full consumes Qi for various reasons: some experience vomiting as food fails to descend and surges upward, thus depleting the primordial source (Lingyuan); some produce phlegm and saliva due to undigested fluids, thus depleting the Spirit Water (Shenshui); some suffer from frequent loose stools, dissipating the transformation of grain Qi; some have slippery and clear urination, depleting the infiltration of the Source Spring. This results in the leakage of clear and cold essence downward, and profuse sweating outward leaking externally. None of these do not arise from overindulgence in food and excessively rich flavors. If one can moderate meals that satisfy desires, reduce palatable tastes, and generally avoid becoming overly full, then every meal will cause no harm to the body, and all things will become beneficial. The transformation of waste products occurs regularly at dawn and dusk through urination and defecation; essence condenses, fluids are contained above and below, spirit is stored inwardly, Ying and Wei protect outwardly, pathogenic toxins cannot invade, and diseases/rashes have no origin to arise. Thus, it is known that the words and teachings of the Sages are sufficient to serve as the great classics of health preservation. (From Lou Juzhong's *Tongshuo on Food Therapy*)

Diet should be timed appropriately, with hunger and fullness kept in balance. Water and grain undergo transformation, the Harmonious Qi (Chonghe) blends, Essence and Blood are generated, Ying and Wei circulate, the Zang-Fu organs are regulated and balanced, the Shen (Spirit) is tranquil, Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) is abundant within, and Yuanzhen (Primordial Truth) connects outwardly. Internal and external pathogenic factors cannot interfere, and all diseases fail to arise.

The general principles of appropriate diet and drink are as follows: One should eat only after feeling hungry; food should be thoroughly chewed and cooked; one should drink only when parched with thirst; drinks should be sipped slowly. Do not wait until extreme hunger to eat; do not eat until overly full. If feeling slightly thirsty, reduce fluid intake; do not drink too frequently. Broths should not be overly sweet or sour; meats should not be greasy or crisp/hard; food should be fine and refined; drinks should be warm. The quantity of rice should not be less than that of noodles; the quantity of vegetables should correspond to that of meat. Meat should be soft and warm; vegetables should not be eaten raw. The Five Flavors should not exceed the taste of grains; the flavor of meat should not exceed the Qi of food. Flavors should be light and harmonious; eating should be done with strict moderation. Thus, food and drink remain delicious, fluids remain sweet, the body remains light and free from fatigue, the spirit remains clear with little sleep needed, the chest and abdomen remain unobstructed with little belching, the epigastrium remains relaxed without bloating, saving the labor of loosening belts and massaging the abdomen, and avoiding the loss of Qi caused by medicinal drugs. These are immediate and effective benefits observable in daily life. (Ibid.)