Dear friends, today we are going to talk about the weight loss journey that countless people are concerned about! Walking down the street, you can see many people frowning over a few extra pounds, dreaming of transforming into a “slim expert” overnight.
Don’t worry! Today, I will present to you an incredible set of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) weight loss secrets that will allow you to enjoy a slim life without suffering or rebound! These treasures are all derived from the classic TCM texts left by our ancestors, reliable and novel, so let’s take a look!
1. Obesity in TCM: A “Signal Light” of Body Imbalance
The TCM classic “Huangdi Neijing” states: “Excessive food intake leads to obesity and shortens life.” This means that if the food intake exceeds the body’s normal metabolic capacity, it can easily lead to obesity and may even affect lifespan.
In TCM, obesity is not just a simple change in body shape; it is an external manifestation of internal organ dysfunction, poor circulation of Qi and blood, and the accumulation of phlegm and dampness.
Let’s first talk about the spleen and stomach, which are the foundation of postnatal health and the source of Qi and blood production. If the spleen and stomach function weakly, it is like a “food processing machine” that cannot effectively digest and absorb the food consumed. Undigested food will turn into phlegm and dampness in the body, leading to weight gain.
Next, consider the liver, which governs the smooth flow of Qi and regulates the body’s energy. If liver Qi is stagnant, it will obstruct the flow of Qi, affecting the metabolism of fluids, and dampness will accumulate into phlegm, exacerbating obesity.
Additionally, the kidneys govern water. If kidney Yang is insufficient, it cannot adequately warm the spleen Yang, significantly reducing the spleen’s ability to transform water and dampness, leading to internal phlegm and dampness.
Therefore, to achieve healthy weight loss, one must start by regulating the organs, balancing Qi and blood, and resolving phlegm and dampness.
2. The “Monsters” Causing Obesity: Unhealthy Habits in Daily Life
1. Overeating: The “Accelerator” of Weight Gain
Nowadays, with improved living conditions, delicious food is everywhere. Many people cannot control themselves when they see tasty dishes, often consuming three days’ worth of food in one meal. Today it’s hot pot and barbecue, tomorrow it’s cake and milk tea; it feels great while eating, but the aftermath is tragic.
TCM teaches that “excessive eating harms the stomach and intestines“; overeating burdens the spleen and stomach, which cannot digest so much food, and the excess energy will be converted into fat for storage.
Moreover, frequently consuming high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods will impair the body’s metabolic function, making the body increasingly “lazy” and burning less energy, leading to weight gain.
This is like filling a car with fuel but not letting it run; eventually, the tank will overflow. The same goes for the body: eating too much without burning it off will inevitably lead to weight gain!
2. Lack of Exercise: The “Hotbed” for Fat Accumulation
Today, with advanced technology, many people drive to work, take elevators, and sit for long periods, resulting in almost zero physical activity throughout the day. But did you know? Exercise acts like a “fat-burning machine” for the body, helping us burn excess energy, promote Qi and blood circulation, and enhance organ function.
Long-term lack of exercise slows down the circulation of Qi and blood, making it difficult to expel metabolic waste, leading to fat accumulation in the body. It’s like a river that doesn’t flow; over time, it will accumulate silt. The body is the same; without exercise, fat will continue to build up, and the body shape will become increasingly distorted.
3. Staying Up Late: The “Invisible Killer” of Obesity
Nowadays, people often spend their nights on their phones, binge-watching shows, or playing games, staying up until the early hours. Staying up late can severely harm the body, disrupting the biological clock and affecting the normal function of the organs.
Especially the liver, which detoxifies and nourishes the blood between 11 PM and 3 AM. If one does not sleep during this time, the liver cannot function properly, affecting the generation of Qi and blood and leading to hormonal imbalances. When hormones are disrupted, the body’s metabolic function is also affected, slowing down fat breakdown and making it easier to gain weight.
Staying up late is like disrupting the “metabolic factory” of the body, preventing it from operating normally, and naturally, obesity will follow.
3. TCM Healthy Weight Loss Tips: Enjoy a Slim Life with Ease
1. Dietary Regulation: Eat the Right Foods to Easily Shed Pounds
- Lotus Leaf PorridgeLotus leaf is a TCM herb praised in the “Bencao Gangmu”. It is bitter and neutral, capable of clearing heat, relieving dampness, lifting clear Yang, and cooling blood to stop bleeding. Cooking porridge with lotus leaves can clear heat and relieve summer heat while helping to expel dampness and excess fat from the body.The method is simple: wash fresh lotus leaves, cut them into small pieces, and cook them with rice. Drinking a bowl of lotus leaf porridge every morning is like giving your body a refreshing “cleaning”, making you feel invigorated and helping you shed a few extra pounds.
- Red Bean and Job’s Tears SoupThis is a “golden duo” for dispelling dampness and promoting water metabolism. Red beans can promote water metabolism, reduce swelling, detoxify, and expel pus, while Job’s tears can promote water metabolism, strengthen the spleen, stop diarrhea, and clear heat and pus. Cooking them together into a soup is particularly effective for obesity caused by excessive phlegm and dampness.Phlegm and dampness are like “sticky substances” in the body, obstructing the flow of Qi and blood, making us both overweight and lethargic. Drinking red bean and Job’s tears soup for a period can help clear out these “sticky substances”, making the body feel lighter and naturally leading to weight loss. Moreover, this soup has a sweet taste and can be consumed throughout the day, making it very convenient.
- Hawthorn and Dried Tangerine Peel TeaHawthorn can aid digestion, strengthen the stomach, and promote Qi circulation, while dried tangerine peel can regulate Qi, strengthen the spleen, and dry dampness to transform phlegm. Brewing hawthorn and dried tangerine peel together in water can help with digestion, reduce the conversion of food into fat, and regulate Qi and phlegm, improving phlegm-damp constitution.For those who have overeaten greasy foods, feel bloated, and have phlegm-damp symptoms, this tea is simply a lifesaver. Drinking a few cups of hawthorn and dried tangerine peel tea daily keeps your digestive system “refreshing” and helps you stay away from obesity.
2. Exercise Regulation: Get Moving and Say Goodbye to Fat
TCM also advocates moderate exercise for weight loss. Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, and yoga are all excellent choices. These exercises are gentle, can regulate breathing, promote Qi and blood circulation, and enhance the body’s flexibility and balance.
Practicing for 30 minutes to 1 hour daily not only burns calories but also improves the body’s metabolic function, making you healthier and slimmer.
Tai Chi emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness, with movements flowing like water, allowing all muscles and joints to be exercised while regulating breathing and enhancing lung function.
Each movement of Ba Duan Jin has specific benefits, stretching various parts of the body, promoting Qi circulation, and helping us expel dampness and turbid Qi from the body.
Yoga, through various postures, effectively strengthens core muscle groups, enhances flexibility, and regulates the mind and body, relieving stress. Exercise acts like igniting the body’s “fat-burning engine”, allowing fat to “burn” within the body and completely bid farewell to obesity!
3. Emotional Regulation: A Good Mood Equals a Great Figure
TCM believes that emotions are closely related to physical health. Long-term anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions can lead to liver Qi stagnation, affecting the spleen and stomach’s function, thus exacerbating obesity. Therefore, maintaining a cheerful mood is also crucial for weight loss.
Participating in social activities, chatting with friends, and sharing interesting life stories can help; cultivating hobbies such as painting, calligraphy, or music can enrich life, divert attention, and reduce anxiety and stress.
When your mood improves, the circulation of Qi and blood in the body will be smoother, and the organ functions will perform normally, making weight loss much more effective. This is like creating a good environment for the body’s “weight loss project”, making the journey to weight loss smoother.
4. Daily Habits: Supporting Healthy Weight Loss
1. Chew Slowly: A “Tip” for Weight Loss
Many people eat quickly, which is not conducive to digestion and can lead to overeating. Starting today, try to slow down your eating pace and chew your food thoroughly. This will help food be better digested and absorbed, and allow the brain to receive signals of satiety in time, preventing overeating.
Studies have found that people who chew slowly are more likely to control their weight than those who eat quickly. It’s like installing a regulator on the body’s “eating valve”, making food intake more reasonable and easily aiding weight loss.
2. Drink More Water: The Body’s “Cleaner”
Water is the source of life. Drinking more water can promote the body’s metabolism, help expel toxins and waste, and increase satiety, reducing food intake. Aim to drink at least 1500 – 2000 milliliters of water daily, primarily plain water or light tea.
Drinking water is like filling the body’s “cleaning machine” with water, allowing it to work efficiently to clear out the garbage in the body, helping you lose weight as you drink.
3. Go to Bed Early and Get Up Early: The “Booster” for Weight Loss
As mentioned earlier, staying up late can lead to obesity, so to lose weight, it is essential to go to bed early and get up early. Try to go to bed before 11 PM every day to ensure 7 – 8 hours of sleep.
Going to bed early and getting up early allows all organs in the body to rest and repair adequately, promoting the generation and circulation of Qi and blood, enhancing metabolic function. This is like recharging the body’s “weight loss battery”, making you feel energetic the next day and more motivated to lose weight.
Friends, healthy weight loss is not an overnight process; it requires us to start from the little things in life and persist in using TCM methods to regulate the body. As long as we follow these methods, I believe that soon you too can easily enjoy a slim life and have a healthy and slender figure!
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