What is TEF?

TEF stands for Traditional Energetics of Food.

TEF is a therapeutic system concerning nutrition and lifestyle.

TEF aims to outline an "old-new" way in understanding the therapeutic effect of food and its contribution to our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

The main aim of TEF is to reestablish the simple truth that used to be a part of the human common knowledge regarding the use of food as medicine for maintaining health.

TEF is based upon ancient wisdom and approaches that explain the essence and influence of food upon our health in simple terms such as warming, cooling, moistening, drying and mobilizing/movement encouraging.

TEF is a treatment method:

TEF was developed as a treatment method, based on the idea that recovery is possible when a patient is actively participating in the healing process and takes responsibility for his/her health. TEF underlines that successful recovery is dependent upon emotional, nutritional and lifestyle changes.

TEF counselors are skilled in various diagnosis methods and able to plan and construct a personal therapeutic diet and lifestyle, tailored to individual needs, keeping in mind the limitations and abilities of each patient.

TEF counselors undergo one-year long specialist training course. TEF professional training course is available for trained practitioners in various medical/paramedical fields such as: Chinese medicine practitioners, naturopathic doctors, clinical nutritionists and other skilled practitioners of various healing arts.

TEF treatment method provides the patient with lifestyle recommendations, knowledge of  foods, proper cooking techniques, medicinal teas & herbs, thus aiding many health seekers in recovering from acute or chronic medical conditions.

TEF as a movement to change nutrition culture in Israel and the middle east:

TEF suggests that the consumption of certain food influences our comprehension of life, and our social, emotional, ecological and spiritual development. TEF has defined a goal to encourage these changes through education for a better nutrition in Israel and the Middle East.

TEF encourages the protection of our environment, the study and use of ancient traditional wisdom worldwide and the integration of these traditions in our contemporary and rapidly developing world.

10 guiding principles of TEF:

1. TEF nutrition counseling is inspired by principles of ancient dietary systems that appreciate the Traditional Energetics of Food such as the authentic Chinese nutrition, Macrobiotics, ancient Indian dietary system (Ayurveda), and authentic Middle East dietary system (Arabian Greek traditional medicine – Unani Tibb).

2. The principles of diagnosis and treatment are based upon philosophical models such as Yin & Yang and the Five Phases theory of Chinese medicine, the three Doshas of Ayurveda and the Four Elements of Unani Tibb.

3. Understanding that there is no such a thing as healthy food or unhealthy food but only appropriate or inappropriate food for each individual.

4. Considering first the energetic and therapeutic effect of food and secondly foods chemical structure.

5. Methods of cooking and special food processing are considered as a primal way to enhance healing effect.

6. A respectable attitude towards whole foods, organic or wild foods, cultivated in traditional manners that support the health of the public and the planet.

7. Gathering, studying and sharing traditional uses of food and folk remedies and the therapeutic potency of spices and herbs.

8. Preferance for locally grown and seasonal food.

9. Preferance for super foods (highly nutritious whole foods) as supplements rather than a single substance supplement used in magadosage.

10. A special attention is given to the restoration of local dietary traditions cultivated by native Middle East residents along the centuries.

TEF was established in the year 2008 by Eyal Shpringer & Asaf Feit