What is Chinese dietetics worth to lose weight?

The current revival of interest in alternative medicine is leading many people to take an interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Lacking recognition, it is nevertheless rich in teachings, among which, its precepts of dietetics. What are the principles of Chinese dietetics and above all, does it allow you to lose weight or control your weight?

What is Chinese dietetics?

Chinese dietetics is one of the components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a medicine that is more than 3000 years old. TCM is aholistic therapy: it treats the body as a whole and takes not only the “palpable” body of the person into account, but also the energetic, emotional and spiritual dimensions of the individual.

Also, Chinese dietetics is based on these same principles, and aims to restore the overall balance of the individual: the proper functioning of his body, but also his energy balance (Qi), according to variables such as health, constitution and cycleof the seasons.

Principles of Chinese dietetics

1- Classification of foods according to their property

According to Chinese dietetics, all foods have therapeutic virtues. They are thus used to prevent the appearance of a disease or discomfort, but also to treat. Also, the classification of foods is one of the essential foundations of Chinese dietetics. It is organized as follows:

• Nature of food: they are hot, neutral or cold. Nothing to do with the temperature at which they are served, but rather with the cooling, warming or neutral appearance once swallowed.
• Flavor of food: there are five, namely salty (action on the kidneys), acid (action on the liver), bitter (action on the heart), sweet (action on the pancreas and spleen) and spicy (action on the lungs). These flavors each have a specific function for the body, influencing vital energy.
• Food tropisms: this corresponds to the place in the body where each food tends to settle and accumulate.
• Therapeutic actions of food: the notion of nutraceuticals (food-medicine) is essential in Chinese medicine. Also each food has its own function and benefits.
• Contraindications of food: sometimes, depending on the state of health of a person, his natural constitution or energy state, certain foods are not recommended to him. In addition, some food groups are considered harmful to health.

2- Benefits of Chinese dietetics

According to the precepts of Chinese dietetics, the benefits of food are numerous, as long as you know what to eat.

• The food must be as “alive” as possible, to provide the body and mind with maximum energy. Also, Chinese dietetics invites you to eat fresh foods, little or not processed, in their natural state. We can therefore consider that it is a healthy diet, perfect for losing weight and staying healthy.
• The diet must be adapted to each person, according to his constitution, lifestyle, personal history, emotional state and energy level. Also it will perfectly meet the needs of the individual … as long as he complies with dietary rules.
• Foods being duly listed according to their hot or cold nature, we could regulate the energy temperature (Yin and Yang) of the person thanks to foodtag. We can thus “warm up” the person with foods that are hot in nature and have a mild or spicy flavor. It can also be “refreshed” with foods that are cold in nature and have a salty, acidic or bitter flavor. Hot foods stimulate vital functions, while cold foods slow down the metabolism.
• The Chinese diet allows you to heal, because it acts by “common sense”tag. There is no place for excess, imbalance, the “chemical”. Also, this diet can be interesting to treatoverweight , cholesterol , Diabeteshypertension… or any other disease where food can play a harmful role.

Chinese diet in practice

The practical dietary principles of Chinese dietetics are numerous. Of course, they adapt according to each person. It is nevertheless possible to draw up a list of universal precepts.

1- Eat mindfully

It is essential not to consume more than you needtag. To do this, you must sitDownand calm. If this is not the case, it is recommended to practice deep breathing (ie abdominal breathing), to soothe stress and become aware of one’s physical sensations. The meal must take place in a quiet space and must take place seated. Before eating it is important to soak up the colors present on your plate and to enjoy the scents and smells. Finally,chewinghas an essential role: it allows you to enjoy the flavors of dishes, their benefits (hot or cold nature), to start digestion and to eat enough (neither too much nor too little).

Note that these rules are recommended by all nutritionists and dieticians, whether or not they are followers of traditional Chinese medicine. These principles are simply common sense and basic nutrition in general. They also allow you to eat to satiety and therefore maintain a healthyweight or lose weight.

2- Structure of the dish

In Chinese dietetics, the plate must be structured according to a certain balance  :

• A quarter of the plate should be filled with cereals , preferably whole grains, as they nourish Qi (energy).
• A quarter must contain Protein – preferably animal at lunchtime, but vegetable in the evening (legumes), to avoid any form of acidity.
• The rest of the plate should be rich in various vegetables , making sure to vary the colors and shapes.

In addition to this structure, there are other dietary principles  :

• It is advisable to eat cooked and hot foods. Better still: cook food together, to promote the synergy of natures and flavors.
• “Wet” foods should be avoided, as they impair the proper circulation of vital fluids and energy. In addition, they encourage storage and therefore weight gain. These so-called “wet” foods areDairy Products , white wheat flour (bread, pasta, semolina), saturated fats, raw vegetables, Sugar .
• Fruit should be eaten between meals. We prefer cooked fruit for dessert – knowing that dessert is not an obligatory part of the meal.
• It is best to drink hot drinks during meals, such as Tea , Herbal Teas, broths or hydrosols. Apart from meals, it is better to drink little, and lukewarm.

Does the Chinese diet make you lose weight?

The precepts of Chinese dietetics, when scrupulously applied, lead almost irremediably to weight loss – especially if you are overweight. In effect:

• We eat in reasoned and reasonable quantities .
• We become aware of our feelings of hunger and satiety .
• The slowness of meals, their regular timings and their progress lead to less absorption of food .
• The composition of the diet invites you to eat naturaland unprocessed foods, without adding superfluous fat, without sugar. It gives pride of place toseedlings , which are low in calories and very satiating, thanks to the fibers they contain.
• Chinese dietetics recommends3 meals a day: hearty breakfast, balanced lunch and light and early dinner.

Also, if a person wants to lose weight, it is in his best interest to adopt certain principles of Chinese dietetics – which are often similar to the principles of “Western” nutrition. However, there are a few caveats:

• Chinese dietetics reject dairy products and therefore may eventually cause calcium deficiencies – especially in women, who are prone to osteoporosis.
• Raw foods are not popular. Yet we know that raw fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that can be altered during cooking.