Fatty acids are the preferred fuel for fire folk in the ATP process, also known as cellular respiration, citric acid cycle, and Krebs cycle. You know the process must be important if it has three different names. Normally, glucose is the preferred fuel for producing energy; it’s quick, cheap, and readily available. Just grab another doughnut. But using simple carbohydrates as energy has drawbacks such as elevated blood sugar, weight gain, and crashing once the sugar is gone.
Actually, the mitochondria can use carbohydrates, fats, or proteins for fuel, the latter two with a little conversion. The body will only use protein if it is absolutely necessary and no other fuel is available, but would prefer to use carbohydrates or fats. The byproduct of breaking down protein is ammonia. It stands to reason that folks on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet will produce more ammonia than someone on a more balanced diet. Ammonia has to be excreted by the kidneys, which is why high-protein diets strain the kidneys. If there aren’t enough dietary nutrients available, the body will use protein for fuel in the form of muscle breakdown. This will cause the muscle wasting that is often found after a long illness or in wasting diseases.
Using fatty acids for fuel is a cleaner burn and isn’t quick, cheap, and easy. Fatty acids must be converted and combined with coenzyme A to feed into the Krebs cycle. Fire folks will gravitate toward fats and often decline desserts, preferring salty and fatty to sweet and fatty. Also eating too much fat can also cause weight gain with fire people, while eating excess carbohydrates is the main culprit with the other constitutions.
Because we need fat, we need bile, and because we need bile, we need bitter foods and herbs, which help release the flow of bile from our gallbladder or encourage its production in the liver. Common bitter herbs to aid fat digestion include dandelion, gentian, milk thistle, blessed thistle, American ginseng, hops, yarrow, and peppermint. A bitter salad with a meal will also improve fat digestion.
In general, folks with a dominant fire element like to eat fat; it is soothing and comforting for body and soul. They will eat the well-cooked fat from the steak or double the amount of olive oil in the salad dressing. Fire folks can demolish a half-stick of butter with a meal, especially if feeling stressed, and nary experience a rise in cholesterol levels. The quality of the fat is extremely important, and wild game or pasture-raised meats are vitally necessary for healthy fire and are good sources of omega oils. Fire folk should be cautious with a grain-based diet lacking in adequate protein and fat, as this will definitely contribute to weight gain, even with exercise.
Active fire people tend to burn fat rather than store it. An overweight fire person is truly out of balance and more than likely not moving or exercising enough. Without movement, there is also a tendency toward constipation, which adds to the appearance of weight gain around the center gut area and hips because fire folk are prone to inflamed small intestines and other digestive difficulties. Often their constipation is related to lack of movement of food through the small intestines, not the large intestine or colon. The partially digested food builds and builds in the small intestines creating inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, constipation, and poor metabolism of nutrients; this is often related to lack of movement in general. This can also apply to the air constitution, or sour blood. Like fire moving across the land, fire people need to move to be healthy and generally love exercise of any type, but especially competitive activities. When fire people don’t move, their energy drops to a smolder instead of a steady burn.
The Bitter Taste of Bile
The taste of bile is bitter and rises in the back of the throat. It’s no accident that the majority of bitter taste buds can be found primarily on the back of the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and on the soft palate. But do keep in mind that all four different taste buds are found all over the tongue; bitter is just slightly clustered toward the back.
Bitter is the taste that protects us from poisonous plants and foods since many poisonous alkaloids are bitter-tasting. Just take a bite of something really bitter and see what happens. The reflexive reaction is to shake the head with the eyes shut and stick out the tongue and drool. Your body has stopped the swallowing process and has initiated the spitting process to stop you from swallowing the bitter poison. How long do you drool and spit after tasting extreme bitterness?
I will venture to say that balanced fire folk have well-developed tastes of bitter and don’t mind the bitter taste in herbs and vegetable sources. Deficient fire folk might be overly sensitive to the bitter taste, while excess fire might crave it and reach for the broccoli instead of the potato, simply because they are eating more fats. Tannins found in many herbs and in black tea taste bitter. Coffee has a bitter taste.
The taste of bitter initiates bile flow, which helps facilitate a bowel movement. Fat will also initiate the flow of bile and help facilitate a bowel movement. Don’t be surprised to find that a fire person does their morning business after a cup of coffee or tea and sausage or bacon, or some other fatty food. Carbohydrates for breakfast just cause poor energy and morning constipation. Bitter herbs for digestion include yellow dock, wild yam, blue vervain, milk thistle, gentian, and dandelion.
Some people have bile reflux (excess fire), with symptoms similar to that of heartburn (also excess fire). Bile reflux is due to a backup of bile and digestive fluids that should have stayed in the small intestine but are now in the stomach. It is often mistakenly diagnosed as acid reflux, though this may also be present. Bile reflux can cause discomfort or a burning sensation in the lower esophagus, but more noticeably in the stomach due to resulting inflammation in the lining. It requires immediate attention to avoid ulcerations in these tissues.
Bile is so alkaline that it burns. Soap makers who have worked with lye, another strong alkaline, will understand the reference. In the soap-making process, when you’re pouring the lye into the water, the bowl will literally get hot to touch. The alkaline lye is all the heat that is needed to “cook” the soap. So it is with bile. This extreme alkalinity is very caustic to the mucous membrane tissues. Bile may be present in stools in cases of extreme diarrhea, gallbladder problems, irritable bowel syndrome, flu, or food poisoning. Bile may also be present in stools after doing a “gallbladder cleanse,” and the excess release of bile is often confused with passing gallstones or passing toxins.
Water is the element that reduces the heat of bile and puts out fire. It is the initial treatment for any caustic alkaline burn, whether in the body or in the laboratory. Water applied quickly, either physically or metaphorically, reduces the damage of excessive fire, but won’t address the cause of it. Air will fan the flames and can fuel it or blow it out of control. Earth can smother fire or cause a bad burn with the wrong fuel.
Salt neutralizes the taste of bitter. The ions in the salt block the receptors that taste bitter, a neat little chemical reaction. That’s why a little salt in your coffee will eliminate any bitterness. For fire people, salt helps control the fire, control the bitter. Salt is the opposite taste of bitter, and water is the opposite element. This is a handy tip to keep in mind.
Salt also helps control histamine levels and fire folks are prone to high histamine, which may manifest as food allergies, seasonal allergies, rashes, swollen eyes and legs, and hives. You might notice that fire folk aren’t stingy with the salt shaker either, and will tend to salt their food without even tasting it.
Without adequate intake of water and fat, fire people have dry skin and hair and digestive and kidney issues. They must discern if dryness is due to lack of oil or lack of water. Fire folk on an extremely low-fat diet suffer tremendously. They may experience dry skin, hair, and nails, reproductive dysfunction, low energy and fatigue, and lack of motivation and creativity. Add a little fat to the diet and it all comes back.
When fire is low and energy is down, fire people may also crave the taste of sour, which is the element air. Any good fire needs a steady supply of oxygen or it will go out. For this reason, fire folk often need to nourish their fire
with air by eating sour foods. For example, lemon water upon rising can help start digestion for the day. Fire people may also enjoy fermented foods, but prefer the sourness of fermented vegetables and pickles to that of fermented dairy.
Fire people tend to exhibit higher than normal rates of total cholesterol on standard blood tests. Always check the ratio between HDL and LDL components on your blood work. If the ratios are good, and they often are with good levels of HDL, then address your doctor’s concerns with information about ratios instead of overall total numbers. If the ratios between HDL and LDL aren’t considered good, then you may have some work to do. Often increasing good fats, such as omega-3 fish oils, and exercising is all that’s needed to bring those ratios in line.
As the characteristics of fire people are explored in the following section, think about the nature and interaction of fire, bile, and fat. Fire cannot exist alone; it must have fuel. Fuel for the human body is preferably either carbohydrates or fat. Fat needs bile to be metabolized. Because bile is produced in the liver and stored and released from the gallbladder, fire people must nurture these organs for good health. And fire people must protect and nurture their hearts both physically and metaphorically.
Influence of Fire
The fire element influences the head, brain, heart, spine, eyes, upper back, hips, thighs, gallbladder, and liver. It governs and is enhanced by metabolism and mitochondrial energy production, as well as thyroid and pancreas activity levels.
Fire is also involved in the production of prostaglandins and other fat-based inflammatory factors, stress hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, and reproductive hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. If fat is involved in the function, just think fire.
Functions of the liver related to phase 1 and 2 detoxification, methylation, and hormone metabolism fall under the domain of fire. The liver is our natural detoxification organ, getting rid of water-soluble toxins in phase 1 and fat-soluble toxins, alcohol, prescription medications, and environmental toxins in phase 2. Herbs that support the detox function of the liver include milk thistle, blessed thistle, burdock, fenugreek, fennel, cayenne, and peppermint. These same herbs support the methylation process, which also helps remove toxins from our bodies, repair DNA, and affect epigenetics. Hormone conversion or metabolism also takes place in the liver. For example, T4 produced by the thyroid must be converted to T3, the useable form, and then sent to the cells. This conversion takes place in the liver.
Inflammation, chronic or acute, creates oxidation that damages tissues. Chronic inflammation plays a role in a wide variety of age-related disorders including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic digestive difficulties, and autoimmune disorders and may speed the aging process. The oxidative stress that occurs during the inflammatory processes uses vast amounts of antioxidant nutrients to offset the number of free radicals produced. If the number of free radicals overwhelms the amount of available antioxidants, then the fatty acids and proteins within the cell membrane may be permanently damaged, which will affect the functioning of the cell. In addition, excess free radicals can lead to cell mutation and DNA damage which can be a risk for cancers and other disorders. Again, antioxidant nutrients include vitamins A, C, E, selenium, and the phytonutrients resveratrol and lutein.
Hives, rashes, swellings, histamine reactions, redness after insect bites, and other signs of inflammation speak of fire. Joint swellings that are warm to touch or red fall under fire’s domain. Fever, sunburn, infection with fever, heat, or redness also speak to fire.
Two of our most important organs—the brain and the heart—fall under the domain of fire. The brain is composed of fatty acids but burns glucose; the heart burns fatty acids. Healthy fats and their proper digestion and assimilation are exceptionally important to fire people. This helps keep them physically healthy and emotionally balanced.
The eyes, upper back, hips, and thighs are muscle systems that are involved in our fight-or-flight response and many athletic activities. Fire folk make good competitive athletes and fit warriors who derive a great amount of enjoyment and stress relief through physical activity. Active fire people have a well-trained cerebellum, the part of the brain that is located in the back of the skull that coordinates physical activity and muscular coordination. The cerebellum also is responsible for the hand-eye coordination that is required for athletic activity.
Fire Traits
People with a dominant fire element are passionate, creative, competitive, courageous, honorable, enthusiastic, intelligent, individualist, and strong-willed. Fire people have high energy levels and strong Vital Energy. They are extroverted, funny, honest, and independent. They tend to be explorers, whether of land or mind, and love learning new things and putting things together in new and different ways.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with fire because it helps fuel exploration, curiosity, and risk-taking, and helps create the memory of the exploration. Add a little testosterone and think of the fiery Celts who explored new lands, pillaging along the way, but never creating settlements or strong systems of government, and you get the picture.
Fire folk tend to be charismatic, and by the force and fire of their personality, these people can draw others to them. Politicians often have strong fire in their constitution, especially the ones that exhibit the most charisma. Actors and actresses, entertainers, and singers often lure us into their orbit because of the sheer force of their personalities. Fire people also make good commanding officers who automatically receive loyalty and devotion from their troops.
They often yearn for a great work in life—their great commitment. Their goals and projects are where fire people put their energy and drive. Their work or projects are the center of their lives, the reason to get up every morning. They expect those they love, family or friends, to support their work and projects just as much as they do themselves. It’s taken very personally when support isn’t shown to their satisfaction. These are the folks who define themselves through their work or interests.
Fire people are loyal and make friends and mates for life unless there is mass betrayal in the relationship. However, their closest friends are generally those found through their work. These are the people with similar interests that draw flame to flame. The fire person will also dote on those friends who are willing to step forward in the face of adversity and support the fire person. This sort of comradery, this willingness to step forward, is appreciated and never forgotten.
Their competitive nature and curious mind spurs them to learn a great deal of information about a variety of subjects. This is not a shallow knowing; they can generally use all the information they have accumulated for their projects, events, tasks, or goals. They make great inventors, creative people on projects, college professors, and good public speakers. Fire people love to share what they know.
The people with a dominant fire element are driven to spread themselves thin, much as fire spreads across the land. As long as there is a job or project to drive them, they will burn with a consuming passion. Problems arise when they take on too many projects at one time. They will work at their projects or jobs long hours, often to the detriment of their health and their personal lives. There is great honor and satisfaction in completing their task and of a job well done. This doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness, but at least to satisfaction and an increase in self-esteem. A caution for fire people—too many irons in the fire can lead to burnout.
Fire people are seldom depressed, and when they are feeling low, it doesn’t last very long. They are generally fun and sunny people who try to find quick solutions to problems that arise either in their work, projects, or personal lives.
Fire people need movement to be healthy. Exercise is invigorating and rejuvenating to these folks, balances blood sugar, and oxygenates the body. In the same way that a fire needs oxygen to burn brightly, so do fire people, and exercise and deep breathing help. Fire folk can actually get more energy by going for a walk than from a cup of
coffee.
As long as fire people eat nutritiously (fuel) and move (air), and don’t take on too many projects, they will maintain a healthy weight, produce high Vital Energy, and live to an old age. And as long as fire people move and exercise, they can handle tremendous amounts of stress, especially the stress that is generated by their own constant projects, or the stress that is generated when family and friends want more time and attention than the fire person can spare from the job or project.
When fire doesn’t move, when fire people sit too long, blood and lymph slows, and pretty soon they gain weight and digestion becomes sluggish. There is also fatigue, loss of drive and motivation, and a soft, bloated look. If this scenario continues, the fire person will begin to take on some traits from their opposite, water.
Fire folk generally have well-defined muscles and medium-width bones. Muscle definition doesn’t mean bulky muscles; it simply means well-toned muscles. A fire person may not exercise for months and when they restart their program, muscle tone and definition return in a very short time. Suddenly calves will appear defined, the muscle area around the knee will be defined, and arms will also. The more a fire person exercises, the more defined the large muscles become; and this includes the heart.
Protein and fat are better breakfast choices to start the day than carbohydrates. Oatmeal for breakfast without added protein is sure to mess with the blood sugar for the morning, if not the rest of the day. Carbohydrates for breakfast only makes the fire person sleepy, groggy, and operating under brain fog. A quick nap is needed to right this situation, and then a meal with protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates.
Southern Folk Medicine Page 23