"Weight Loss" in Traditional Chinese Medicine

There are many different factors that contribute to difficulty losing weight, such as lifestyle, nutrition, hormones, sleep patterns, and possibly genetics.  For many, maintaining a healthy weight is a daily task.  It is important to note that a person's healthy weight and "ideal" weight may be worlds apart.  Traditional Chinese medicine can help steer you towards your healthy weight, and I'm here to talk with you a little bit about what might be standing between you and your healthy weight.

Introducing the traditional Chinese medicine term Phlegm.

Traditional Chinese medicine views weight gain and weight loss resistance differently than how biomedicine looks at it.  At the root level, weight gain is excess Phlegm which comes from the Spleen, aka the gut.  Quite simply, if you can't assimilate your food and drink properly, this can cause many issues such as weak digestion, nutrient deficiencies, and stagnation in the body.

With this in mind, you could have the cleanest diet on the planet but your body isn't getting what it needs because you are not able to digest well.  This can cause issues like weight gain because we need to overeat in order supply our body with adequate nutrients to survive.  This begins a vicious cycle: If we don't eat to nourish ourselves, our systems become imbalanced because our bodies don't have the building blocks to help us thrive.  As the digestive system (Spleen) continues to weaken, the body begins to produce and accumulate "phlegm," making it feel sluggish and heavy.

From a biomedical point of view, our metabolism slows down.

Your body likes a state of constant flow.  The accumulation of Phlegm doesn't stop with symptoms of weight gain or weight loss resistance.  It also shows up as feeling tired, sluggish, heavy, unhappy bowels, or emotional upset.  There's nothing to lose by addressing Phlegm.

​The idea of weight loss can seem overwhelming.  Mindset is oh so important for this.  Rather than focusing on "weight loss" and driving yourself crazy, try focusing on "health gain."  This means focusing on lowering insulin, lowering inflammation, healing your gut, and getting proper fuel so your body will have the ability to heal itself.  Weight loss will be a byproduct of protecting your health.

Nevertheless, traditional Chinese medicine has a few tips to address Phlegm that will have a big impact on your health:

• Keep your drinks warm: Cold constricts, heat moves.  Your body wants to be in a constant state of motion.  Try it!  It might make the difference.
• Ditch the greasy foods:  Any food that's difficult to digest will lead to Phlegm accumulation, but the worst is greasy or fried foods.  They offer little nutrition and are difficult to digest and assimilate into the body.  PS- the same is true of sugar.
• Eat like a queen in the morning and a pauper at night: Your digestive system is at its peak between 7-11 am.  This is a good time to eat your biggest meal- you will digest it well and have fuel for the day.
• Hold the raw foods: Just like cold drinks, raw and cold foods slow down the digestive system and metabolism.  Warm and cooked is always the best option.
• Build your muscles: It's really important to move your body daily.  Movement is a great way to make your digestive system happy and get rid of excess Phlegm.  If your digestive system is sluggish and you feel tired at the thought-- less is more.  Start with five minutes and build form there.  Just be consistent.

​These simple additions to your day can have a profound impact on your body and help you move towards a healthier you!