As pet owners, you want to ensure that your furry friends stay healthy and happy. Feeding them nutritious meals is crucial to their well-being, but did you know that the temperature of their food also affects their internal body temperature? This is where food energetics come into play. In this blog post, we will discuss the history and concept of food energetics, how different types of meats, vegetables, fruits, and spices can affect your pet's temperature, and the symptoms of your pet's nutrition causing them to run hot and cold.

Food Energetics or Eastern Food Therapy (EFT)

Food energetics, also known as food therapy, is an ancient Chinese concept that has been practiced for over 2,000 years. The concept of food energetics is based on the idea that food has different energetic properties that can either warm or cool your pet's body. For example, foods such as lamb, venison, salmon and chicken are considered warming, while foods like duck, rabbit, and certain fish are considered cooling. Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and ginger have warming properties, while cucumber, celery, and spinach have cooling properties. Understanding these properties can help you create a balanced diet for your pet that can benefit their health.

Symptoms of Hot Deficiency

  • The suffer from allergies.

  • The pant excessively and while resting.

  • They seek out cool places in your home.

  • They show signs of anxiety.

  • They suffer from dry itchy skin.

  • They are prone to hotspots.

Here are some other examples of conditions that can cause increased body temperature: acute fever or infection, arthritis, constipation, early stages of Cushing's disease, diabetes, diarrhea with blood or mucus, dry cough, hepatitis, hyperactivity, inflammatory bowel disease, increased thirst, pancreatitis, restlessness, and skin infections/hot spots.

Symptoms Cold Deficiency

  • May have lack of appetite.

  • They love blankets and snuggling. (Seeks warm places.)

  • They prefer not to play in snow or be outside in the cold.

  • Lack of energy.

  • Light pink or pale tongue.

Other examples of cold conditions could include: anemia, chronic digestive problems, chronic kidney disease, generalized weakness, hypothyroidism (later stages), incontinence.

How to Find Balance

Different types of meat have different effects on your pet's temperature. For instance, if your pet has a cold body constitution, you should feed them warming meats like lamb or beef. On the other hand, if your pet has a hot body constitution, you should feed them cooling meats like duck or fish. However, it is vital to remember that food energetics is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Other factors, such as your pet's breed, age, and lifestyle, will also affect their body temperature.

How Seasons Play a Role

Seasons also play a significant role in food energetics. During the colder months, your pet may need more warming foods to maintain their body temperature. In contrast, during the summer months, you should give your pet more cooling foods such as watermelon or cucumber. Additionally, different breeds may also require different types of foods. For instance, breeds such as huskies and malamutes have a thick coat and are better suited for cooling foods.

We have a compiled a list of food for each category of Food Energetics. Neutral foods are great for anytime of the year, or for pet's that seem in balance already.

Neutral Foods:

  • Vegetables: cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, green beans, shiitake mushroom, sweet potato, yam

  • Fruits: apple, papaya, pineapple

  • Herbs and Spices: bee pollen

  • Oils and such: olive oil, honey

  • Nuts and Seeds: almond, flax, peanut, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed

  • Seafood: catfish, whitefish, cod, pollock, mackerel, sardine, squid, trout

  • Meat: beef, beef liver, beef tripe, bison, pork, pork liver, quail

  • Dairy: cheese, chicken egg

Warming Foods:

  • Vegetables: bell pepper, Brussels sprout, kale, pumpkin, 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

  • Meat: beef, chicken, chicken liver, pheasant, pork liver

  • Dairy: raw goat's milk

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, duck, goose, pork, rabbit, turkey, duck eggs

  • Dairy: yogurt

In conclusion, food energetics is a fascinating concept that can influence your pet's body temperature. Understanding the different properties of meats, vegetables, fruits, and spices can help you create a balanced diet that can benefit your pet's health. Remember, food energetics is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and other factors, such as your pet's breed, age, and lifestyle, will also affect their body temperature. If you notice any symptoms that may indicate your pet's nutrition is causing them to run too hot or cold, consult your veterinarian and adjust their diet accordingly. A balanced diet will not only provide essential nutrients but also ensure that they stay healthy and comfortable.