Being overweight refers to a situation where a person's weight exceeds 20% of the standard weight. Further development leads to obesity, which is mainly caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the body. Obesity can be classified as constitutional or acquired, with the former being related to genetics and the latter being mostly due to excessive nutrition and lack of physical activity.
In traditional Chinese medicine, overeating leads to spleen and kidney deficiency, stagnation of water and phlegm, and accumulation in the body, resulting in obesity. Medicinal diets and porridges have the advantages of being safe, simple, and free of toxic side effects in terms of weight loss. The key is to determine the appropriate diet based on the individual's condition, maintain consistency, and increase physical activity. Only then can the excess fat in the body be effectively consumed, achieving the goal of weight loss. In addition, by consuming reasonable medicinal diets and porridges, it is also possible to prevent fat accumulation and the occurrence of obesity.
The following are commonly used medicinal diets for fitness and weight loss.
Medicinal Diet One: Winter Melon and Adzuki Bean Soup
【Ingredients】500g winter melon, 40g adzuki beans.
【Preparation】Boil the winter melon and adzuki beans in two bowls of water, simmer for 20 minutes over low heat. Do not add salt or add a small amount of salt. Take it twice a day, eat the melon and drink the soup.
【Effects】Promotes urination, reduces edema, and relieves fever and toxicity. Suitable for acute nephritis with edema and oliguria, or obesity.
【Note】Winter melon has low sodium content, making it an ideal food for patients with edema caused by kidney disease. It is not suitable for those with chronic nephritis and spleen and kidney deficiency with cold.
Medicinal Diet Two: Soybean Skin Soup
【Ingredients】200g soybean skin.
【Preparation】Boil and serve the soybean skin soup.
【Usage】Drink the soup, once a day.
【Effects】Strengthens the spleen, moisturizes the intestines. Suitable for constipation, habitual constipation, and other conditions.
Medicinal Diet Three: Ginger Vinegar Stewed Papaya
【Ingredients】5g ginger, 100g papaya, rice vinegar.
【Preparation】Wash and cut the papaya and ginger into pieces, place them in a clay pot, add rice vinegar and water, simmer over low heat until the papaya is cooked.
【Effects】Tonifies qi and blood, relieves depression, dispels wind and cold, and resolves accumulation and detoxification.
【Indications】Chronic gastritis, fitness and nourishment, diuretic weight loss.
Medicinal Diet Four: Beef Tripe Stomach-Nourishing Soup
【Ingredients】500g beef tripe, 2 fresh lotus leaves, appropriate amount of mushrooms, cinnamon, ginger, yellow wine, and salt.
【Preparation】Wash the beef tripe once, then rub it with half a bowl of salt and vinegar, rinse it repeatedly with cold water, and cut it into small pieces. Place the fresh lotus leaves at the bottom of a clay pot, add the beef tripe, submerge it with water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 30 minutes over medium heat. Remove the beef tripe, cut it into small pieces, and put it back into the clay pot. Add 3 tablespoons of yellow wine, a small amount of fennel, and cinnamon. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Add a small amount of salt and ginger, continue to simmer for 2 to 3 hours until the tripe is tender. Consume a small bowl each time, twice a day.
【Effects】Tonifies the middle, invigorates qi, strengthens the spleen, and aids digestion. Suitable for gastric prolapse, chest and abdominal distension, and poor appetite.
