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. These areas involve the endocrine system and kidneys, and TCM may help treat water retention and stimulate nerve and hormonal rebalance. The spleen and thyroid gland are also targeted and may help with sugar and hormonal rebalancing. Finally, the adrenal and ovary glands are addressed to help treat weight gain due to menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Some people may 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 are believed to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” hormones. In this respect, acupuncture is believed to be able to calm and thus may help lose weight.

Various herbs may help you lose weight as they are believed to help with suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism and burning fat. Some of the traditional Chinese medicine herbs most commonly used 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 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 is said they can cause sudden increases in blood sugar levels. Whereas, complex carbohydrates are believed not to. Thus, eating more complex carbohydrate food is viewed as 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, and thus may help to prevent Type 2 diabetes and help so that 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 may result in consuming too many calories and may contribute to weight gain and obesity.