Weightless

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the belief is that excessive weight gains are caused mainly by an imbalance in the body. This imbalance can be due to malfunctions of the spleen and liver organ systems. Skilled acupuncture practitioners can effectively target specific body areas to stimulate weight loss. The areas addressed involve the endocrine system and kidneys, treat water retention and stimulate nerve and hormonal rebalance. The spleen and thyroid gland are also targeted for sugar and hormonal rebalancing. Finally, the adrenal and ovary glands are addressed to treat weight gain due to menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Some people notice the effects of acupuncture fairly quickly.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles at specific body points or “energy pathways.” The inserted needles act to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” hormones. This can create a calming, relaxing effect, which counteracts the need for excessive eating brought about by increased stress, frustration or anxiety. In this respect, acupuncture can calm those so afflicted and help them lose weight without resorting to drugs.

Various herbs can help you lose weight by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism and burning fat. Some of the best traditional Chinese medicine herbs for weight loss include He Ye (lotus leaf), Fu Ling and Huang Qi.

Do we need carbohydrates?

Along with protein and fat, carbohydrates are one of the three main carbohydrates we should eat every day. They support various body functions including supplying energy, supporting the body’s immune system, and blood clotting.

What are carbohydrates?

There are 2 types of carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.

Here are some examples:

Why more complex carbohydrates?

Simple carbohydrates can cause sudden increases in blood sugar levels. Whereas, complex carbohydrates DOES NOT! Thus, eating more complex carbohydrate food is healthier.

This is because complex carbohydrates take longer to be broken down for absorption into the bloodstream, hence blood sugar level increase is very gradual, helping to prevent Type 2 diabetes and making sure less sugar turns into fat.

Additionally, complex carbohydrates contain lots of fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – they are considered “good carbs”. On the other hand, simple carbohydrates do not need to be broken down much to be absorbed into the bloodstream, hence can flood into the bloodstream, causing blood sugar spikes. Thus, simple carbohydrates are considered “bad carbs”.

What can we replace to increase complex carbohydrate in our diet?

To maintain a healthy diet, there are some alternatives you can follow to increase the amount of complex carbohydrates and fibre in your diet.

Instead of sugar, use coconut palm sugar or raw honey.

Instead of white flour, use almond flour.

Instead of taco shells, use leafy greens like kale, cabbage, lettuce and collard leaves.

Instead of hamburger buns, use Portobello mushroom caps.

Instead of sliced bread, use slices of eggplant.

Instead of French fries, use turnips, butternut squash or carrots.

Instead of lasagne, use eggplant or zucchini.

Instead of mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese, use cauliflower.

Instead of pancakes, use oatmeal cakes.

Instead of pizza crust, use cauliflower or mushrooms.

instead of pasta, use shirataki noodles or butternut squash noodles

However, it is also important to note that eating any type of sugar, especially in large quantities, can be harmful – including sugar that comes from fruit. Eating too much sugar results in consuming too many calories and can contribute to weight gain and obesity.