How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Aid In Weight Loss
Traditional Chinese medicine might just be the secret to losing weight.
Utilizing a combination of herbs, proper diet, exercise, acupuncture, and meditation, following a TCM weight loss program is an effective and healthy way to cut weight and keep it off.
Below, are some tips followed in traditional medicine that can aid in weight loss.
1. Fill your diet with qi-filled food
The basic concept of “qi”, pronounced as chee, is that it’s the energy found in the human body and is essentially responsible for your well-being. If you have a lot of qi and it’s flowing freely throughout your body, then you’ll be healthier and it’s a lot easier for you to lose weight.
Examples of qi-filled food are vegetables and whole foods. Basically, any food that’s not packed, processed, refined, or artificial, is full of qi and is good for you.
2. Avoid foods that take away qi
Just like how there’s food that’s full of qi, there are also foods that also take qi away.
Anything that’s full of sugar or has too much caffeine is not good for your qi, and therefore, bad for your body and your weight. Also, avoid eating cold or raw food. This is because cold or raw food takes too much qi to process and digest, slowing down your body’s metabolism and making it harder for you to burn fats and lose weight.
3. Eat slowly
Or, more precisely, like a turtle.
In TCM, it’s important to practice mindful eating. This means taking your time when you eat and focusing on whatever it is that you’re eating. By allowing yourself to be fully immersed in the moment, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the experience of eating. More importantly, you’ll feel a lot more satisfied despite eating a lot less as well, which means, you’re less likely to overeat.
This goes in line with what many fitness coaches will tell you, and in TCM, it’s believing that mindful eating is a way to conserve the necessary qi so your body can function properly and normally.
4. Go to bed early
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body undergoes its natural detox process at around 11 PM at night. If you’re still awake by then, you’re hampering the body’s detox process.
So tuck yourself in early and get enough rest as well to start off the day.
5. Don’t forget to exercise
Traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t necessarily require you to go to the gym. Instead, what it requires you to do is to exercise. Any kind of exercise is okay, as long as it gets your body moving and sweat going.
Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, gardening, and so on, what’s important is that it involves movement of the body, and that you do it every day.
6. Give acupuncture and herbs a try
Another key component in traditional Chinese medicine that supposedly helps in weight loss is acupuncture, as well as the use of herbs.
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that, if utilized properly, can help minimize overeating and even eliminate any food cravings. Meanwhile, if you supplement your diet with the right herbs, you’ll be able to lose weight and keep it off.
Basically, the most important thing in traditional Chinese medicine is that you listen closely to your body and that you make sure that your qi is always at optimal levels. Once you get this right, losing weight can be done easily.