Fire
About a year ago, I learned that my Constitutional Element is fire, as they see it in the five element view of Chinese medicine.
And this fits well with what I have discovered on my own. I thrive in warm and dry climates, maybe especially in Utah where I lived for some years. While living there, I had more energy and passion than anytime before or after, and connect with this again even on shorter visits. Wet, damp and humid climates are exactly opposite and drain my energy and passion quickly.
Wood fire is very beneficial for me, and I spend most nights in front of the wood stove during the winter. Candles are also helpful, as are sunning the eyes (closed) which I do anytime there is an opportunity.
In terms of food, the typical heat foods are good for me. Spices such as cloves and cinnamon, and spice teas such as yogi tea and the spices of chai (minus black tea and sweetener) are very helpful. Brussel sprouts and some meat (local and free range of course) likewise.
Similarly, colder foods - such as dairy, sweeteners and refined food - is generally not very good for me. The energy usually plummets if I eat too much of this.
In the winter, I eat cooked food - slow cooked is even better, and avoid almost all raw foods. And in summer, half or more is raw to balance the heat from the weather.
It is very easy for me to understand how all these recommendations came about, as I experience it so directly and immediately for myself. As I do with acupuncture and other treatments - the effects of each needle is typically immediate and obvious, and usually aligned with the theory. If it works at all that is, which seem to depend largely on the practitioner. With some practitioners, the effect is strong. With others, there is almost no effect.