Chinese Dietary Therapy for Weight Loss

1. Green tea: has antioxidants, good for weight loss because it is a psychoactive stimulant and a mild diuretic, has caffeine, can cause insomnia.

Notes: limit caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate) after 4:00 pm for better sleep

2. American Ginseng: mild, slightly cool energy, tonifies qi, energy booster, anti-aging, increases blood pressure, potentially causes diarrhea

Korean ginseng: strong, hot energy, tonifies qi, energy booster, increases blood pressure, can cause nose bleeding if a person already has a hot body condition; used in emergency rooms in China, helps people regain consciousness. No. 1 qi tonic among all the Chinese herbs.

Notes: not every one needs a qi tonic

3. Rose flower: mild, improves blood circulation, improves facial color, regulates menstrual flow

Notes: a beauty secret for queens in ancient China

4. Chamomile flower: anti-inflammatory, reduces blood pressure, good for fevers, sore throats and aches and pains due to colds, flu, and allergies.

5. A Jiao: made with donkey skin! Tonifies blood, good for dry skin, dry hair and constipation, general tonic for a blood deficiency condition.

Walnuts and black sesame, is shape of brain and kidney, tonifies brain and kidneys, good for dry skin, dry gray hair, constipation, poor memory, anti-aging

Notes: not all Chinese herbs are from plants.

6. Eight treasure Chinese multi-grain soup: white rice (soothes the stomach), red beans (reduce ankle edema, water retention,  promote weight loss), mung beans (help heat stroke, good for fevers, sore throats), lotus seeds (reduce diarrhea, calm heart meridian, help sleep), red dates (tonify blood, calm spirit, high in iron), peanuts (called the longevity nut in China),longan pulp (tonifies blood, heart and spleen meridian, increases hot energy), goji berries (anti-aging, shape of kidney, tonify kidney, increase sexual energy), millet (high in iron, good for anemia, common food for women right after giving birth in northern China) The above ingredients are not available at regular grocery stores, but can be found at the First Oriental Market located at 2774 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030.

7. Weight loss breakfast smoothie: 15-20 g protein (3-4 oz meat products, yogurt, protein powder) is the key to suppressing sugar cravings later on during the day; 2-3 whole fresh fruits, lots of fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants, keep you high in energy, good for cholesterol as well; 1 cup water, helps to flush out the body's waste. Recipe is on my website www.medicalacupuncturenutrition.com

8. Another tip for weight loss: Eat a thick soup made with veggies (such as cabbage, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and carrots) and meat (ground meat, sausage or sea food). The key is a large volume of food and less calories; more info can be found in VOLUMATRIC (best seller book for weight loss, written by my advisor Dr. Barbara Rolls from Pennsylvania State University).



Anti-aging treatment- what to choose? Western medical approach or Chinese medical approach

Western medicine and Chinese medicine appear to advocate entirely different approaches to  human health.The former focuses on a concentrated view of illness, seeing each cell as separate. It emphasizes precise measurements and documentation. In this view, patients with the same diagnosis receive the same treatment protocol and the same medication.

In contrast to Western medicine, Chinese medicine views a person as much more than the "sum of the parts". The practitioner retunes the physical, emotional and environmental factors of the patient by recognizing that each person has his or her own particular body constitution, thus treatment is tailored to each individual's symptom pattern. Patients with same diagnosis receive different treatments.

The conventional Western treatment strategies employed in facial rejuvenation can be classified according to their various aims, which include: refilling (implants, etc), relaxing (Botox), resurfacing (ablative and non-ablative), and lifting (surgery, liposuction, etc). All of these procedures serve as quick and dramatic fixes of the facial appearance. Often, they cause risk of permanent skin damage and scar tissue development as well as long recovery times, in addition to the high costs of this type of treatment.

The ability of acupuncture to improve blood circulation is a major factor in the beneficial effects of anti-aging treatments. Increased blood circulation improves oxygenation of the skin, facilitating metabolic processes and removing waste products, which promotes improvements in skin quality, color and texture. In addition, the relaxation effects of acupuncture and its ability to increase the synthesis of a range of neuropeptides, including endorphins, can enhance the appearance of the face and skin by improving sleep quality, reducing stress and improving mood. Chinese herbal medicine has proven to be very successful in adjusting female hormonal imbalances, especially menstrual irregularities and reproductive health. Often, these health conditions are related to skin issues.

Anxiety, lack of sleep, poor diet, indigestion and constipation, and hormonal imbalances all contribute to a dull complexion, acne, dark under eye circles, dry skin, wrinkles, etc. The list goes on. Will you choose a temporary fix through Western cosmetic procedures, or a true healing through Chinese medicine?

Posted 10/20/07

 

Some Thoughts about Weight Loss

To keep yourself healthy, you need to choose a lifestyle that combines sensible eating with regular physical activity. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, arthritis, and breathing problems. Studies have shown that weight loss improved symptoms of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. If you are overweight, loss of 5 to 15 percent of your body weight can improve your body's ability to function, and your quality of life. Aim to lose approximately 10 percent of your weight over about 6 months. This would be 20 pounds of weight loss for someone who weighs 200 pounds. Loss of 1/2 to 2 pounds per week is usually recommended. Even if you have regained weight in the past, it's worthwhile to try again.