主身者神；养气者精；益精者气；资气者食；食者，生民之天，活人之本也
。故饮食进则谷气充，谷气充则气血盛，气血盛则筋力强。故脾胃者，五脏之宗也。四脏之
气，皆禀于脾，故四时皆以胃气为本。《生气通天论》云∶气味辛甘发散为阳，酸苦涌泄为
阴。是以一身之中，阴阳运用，五行相生，莫不由于饮食也。
若少年之人，真元气壮。或失于饥饱，食于生冷，以根本强盛，未易为患。其高年之人
，真气耗竭，五脏衰弱，全仰饮食以资气血。若生冷无节，饥饱失宜，调停无度，动成疾患。
凡人疾病，未有不因八邪而感。所谓八邪者，风、寒、暑、湿、饥、饱、劳、逸也。为
人子者，得不慎之。
若有疾患，且先详食医之法，审其疾状，以食疗之。食疗未愈，然后命药，贵不伤其脏
腑也。
凡百饮食，必在人子躬亲调治，无纵婢使慢其所食。
老人之食，大抵宜其温热熟软，忌其粘硬生冷。每日晨朝，宜以醇酒，先进平补下元药
一服。女人，则平补血海药一服，无燥热者，良。寻以猪、羊肾粟米粥一杯压之，五味、葱
、薤、鹑膂等粥皆可。至辰时，服人参平胃散一服。然后次第以顺四时软熟饮食进之。食后
，引行一二百步，令运动消散。临卧时，进化痰利膈人参半夏丸一服。
尊年之人，不可顿饱，但频频与食，使脾胃易化，谷气长存。若顿令饱食，则多伤满，
缘衰老人肠胃虚薄，不能消纳，故成疾患。为人子者，深宜体悉，此养老人之大要也。
日止可进前药三服，不可多饵。如无疾患，亦不须服药，但只调停饮食，自然无恙矣。
主宰身体的是神；滋养元气的是精；充实精微的是气；资助气的是食物；食物，是百姓生存的根本，是维持生命的基础。所以饮食摄入充足则谷气充盈，谷气充盈则气血旺盛，气血旺盛则筋骨有力。因此，脾胃是五脏的宗主。四脏的气血，都禀受于脾，所以四季养生都以胃气为根本。《素问·生气通天论》说：气味辛甘发散的药物或食物属于阳，酸苦涌泄的药物或食物属于阴。因此，在人体之中，阴阳的运用，五行的相生，无不依赖于饮食。
如果是年轻人，真元之气壮盛。即使偶尔饥饱不均，食用生冷食物，因为根基强盛，不容易产生病患。那些年老的人，真气耗竭，五脏衰弱，完全依赖饮食来资助气血。如果生冷饮食没有节制，饥饱失当，调理没有限度，动不动就形成疾患。
大凡人的疾病，没有不是因感受“八邪”而引发的。所谓的八邪，是指风、寒、暑、湿、饥、饱、劳、逸这八种因素。作为子女，怎能不谨慎对待呢？
如果有疾病发生，应当先详细考察食医的方法，审察疾病的状况，用食疗法来治疗。食疗未能痊愈，然后再使用药物，珍贵之处在于不伤害脏腑。
所有的饮食，必须由子女亲自调治，不要放纵婢女仆人怠慢所吃的食物。
老年人的饮食，大体上适宜温热、熟软的食物，忌讳粘硬、生冷的食物。每天早晨，宜饮用醇酒，先服用一剂平补下元的药物。女性，则服用一剂平补血海的药物，以没有燥热性质的为佳。随后喝下一杯猪肾或羊肾粟米粥来压住药性，五味子粥、葱粥、薤白粥、鹑肉粥等都可以。到了辰时（上午7-9点），服用一剂人参平胃散。然后依次按照顺应四季规律的原则，进食软熟的食物。饭后，散步一二百步，使食物运动消散。临睡前，服用一剂化痰利膈的人参半夏丸。
年高之人，不可一次性吃得太饱，应频繁地给予食物，使脾胃容易消化，谷气长存。如果让人一下子吃饱，则多会导致胀满，因为衰老之人的肠胃虚弱单薄，不能消纳食物，所以形成疾患。作为子女，深深应该体谅这一点，这是养老人的关键要点。
一天最多只能进前三项提到的药物三次，不可多服。如果没有疾病，也不需要服药，只要调理好饮食，自然就没有忧患了。
The spirit (Shen) governs the body; essence (Jing) nourishes Qi; replenishing Jing benefits Qi; food supplies Qi. Food is the heaven of the people's livelihood and the root of human life. Therefore, when diet is sufficient, Gu Qi (Grain Qi) becomes abundant; when Gu Qi is abundant, Qi and Blood become prosperous; when Qi and Blood are prosperous, sinews and bones become strong. Thus, the Spleen and Stomach are the masters of the Five Zang Organs. The Qi of the four other Zang organs relies on the Spleen; therefore, in all four seasons, Stomach Qi serves as the foundation. *Su Wen: Sheng Qi Tong Tian Lun* states: "Acrid and sweet flavors that disperse and ascend belong to Yang; sour and bitter flavors that induce vomiting and purging belong to Yin." Hence, within the whole body, the operation of Yin and Yang, and the mutual generation of the Five Elements, all depend on diet.
For young people, their True Yuan Qi is robust. Even if they suffer from irregular meals or consume raw and cold foods, because their foundation is strong, illness does not easily arise. However, for the elderly, their True Qi is depleted, and the Five Zang Organs are weak; they rely entirely on diet to supplement Qi and Blood. If there is no restraint in consuming raw and cold foods, if meals are irregular, or if regulation lacks moderation, diseases will readily occur.
Generally, human diseases are caused by none other than the Eight Evils. The so-called Eight Evils refer to Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Hunger, Fullness, Labor, and Rest. As children, how can one not be cautious?
If a disease arises, one should first carefully examine the methods of dietary therapy, assess the condition of the illness, and treat it with food. Only if dietary therapy fails to cure the illness should medicine be prescribed, with the paramount principle being not to injure the Zang and Fu organs.
All dietary preparations must be personally managed by the children; one must not allow maidservants or servants to neglect the food provided.
The diet of the elderly should generally consist of warm, cooked, and soft foods, avoiding sticky, hard, raw, and cold items. Every morning, after drinking mellow wine, one should first take a dose of medicine to gently tonify the Lower Yuan. For women, a dose of medicine to gently nourish the Blood Sea (Chong and Ren Mai) should be taken first, preferably without drying or heating properties. This should be followed by a cup of pork kidney or sheep kidney millet porridge to settle the stomach; porridges made with Wuwei Zi (Schisandra), Scallion, Xie (Buckthorn fruit), or Quail meat are also suitable. At Chen hour (07:00–09:00), take a dose of Renshen Pingwei San (Ginseng Powder to Calm the Stomach). Thereafter, gradually introduce soft and cooked foods that accord with the seasonal changes. After eating, walk for 100–200 steps to promote digestion and dispersion. Before sleep, take a dose of Ren Shen Ban Xia Wan (Ginseng and Pinellia Pill to Resolve Phlegm and Benefit the Diaphragm).
Elderly persons should not eat until fully stuffed at once; instead, food should be offered frequently to facilitate easy digestion by the Spleen and Stomach, ensuring the continuous presence of Gu Qi. If forced to eat until full suddenly, it often leads to abdominal distension and fullness, because the intestines and stomach of the aged are weak and thin, unable to digest and absorb large amounts of food, thus causing disease. Children should deeply understand this; this is the essential principle of caring for the elderly.
One should not exceed three doses of the aforementioned medicines per day, nor take excessive amounts. If there is no illness, medication is unnecessary; simply regulating the diet will naturally ensure well-being.