The Relationship Between Spleen Deficiency and Weight Loss Difficulties
Many people who want to lose weight healthily find that despite eating little and exercising regularly, their weight just won't drop. This is likely due to spleen deficiency. In TCM, the spleen governs transportation and transformation, and spleen deficiency leads to weakened bodily transportation functions and slower metabolism.
When spleen deficiency occurs, food cannot be fully digested and absorbed, causing excess water and fat to accumulate in the body, leading to weight loss difficulties. Don't worry though - the following 3 TCM dietary therapies can help regulate your spleen-stomach and boost metabolism, making weight loss more efficient.
"The spleen governs transportation and transformation; when spleen is deficient, transportation fails, water-dampness stagnates internally, and phlegm-turbidity is generated." - Classical TCM Theory
First Recipe: Chinese Yam and Lotus Seed Porridge
Prepare 50g Chinese yam, 20g lotus seeds, and 100g japonica rice. Peel and wash the Chinese yam, cut into pieces. Remove cores from lotus seeds and wash. Clean the japonica rice. Put all three ingredients in a pot with appropriate water, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat until porridge consistency.
Chinese yam has spleen-strengthening and stomach-nourishing effects, lotus seeds can tonify spleen, stop diarrhea, nourish heart and calm spirit, while japonica rice supplements the middle and benefits qi. This porridge has a soft texture, is easy to digest, and is very suitable for daily consumption by those with spleen deficiency. Consistent use can effectively improve spleen-stomach function.
Second Recipe: Poria and Tangerine Peel Tea
Take 15g poria and 5g tangerine peel. Wash the poria and tangerine peel, put in a teapot, brew with boiling water, and steep for about 10 minutes before drinking.
Poria can strengthen spleen and drain dampness, while tangerine peel regulates qi, strengthens spleen, dries dampness and transforms phlegm. This tea promotes spleen-stomach transportation, helps eliminate internal dampness, and accelerates body metabolism. It can be used as a daily beverage and consumed anytime.
Third Recipe: Fried White Hyacinth Bean Porridge
Need 50g white hyacinth beans and 100g japonica rice. First wash the white hyacinth beans, soak in water for 2 hours, then stir-fry in a pan until slightly yellow. Add the cleaned japonica rice and appropriate water, cook into porridge.
White hyacinth beans have spleen-strengthening, dampness-transforming, harmonizing middle and summer-heat relieving effects. They work well for digestive disorders and poor appetite caused by spleen deficiency with dampness excess. This porridge enhances spleen-stomach transportation ability, improves body metabolism, and makes the weight loss journey smoother.
Identifying Spleen Deficiency Symptoms
Common symptoms of spleen deficiency include: poor appetite, abdominal bloating, loose stools, limb fatigue, sallow complexion, pale tongue with white coating. If you experience these symptoms during weight loss, it's likely due to slow metabolism caused by spleen deficiency.
Additionally, people with spleen deficiency tend to experience edema, heavy phlegm-dampness, and easy fatigue. Through dietary therapy regulation, these symptoms can be gradually improved, enhancing the body's metabolic capacity.
Precautions for Dietary Therapy Regulation
When conducting dietary therapy regulation, maintain regular eating habits and avoid overeating. Also eat less raw, cold, greasy, and sweet-greasy foods, as these burden the spleen-stomach.
It's recommended to combine with appropriate exercise like walking or tai chi - gentle exercises that help promote spleen-stomach transportation. Maintaining good sleep habits and avoiding staying up late are also important aspects of spleen deficiency regulation.
Long-term Regulation and Effect Assessment
Spleen deficiency regulation requires persistence, generally needing 1-3 months of consistent practice to see obvious effects. During regulation, observe improvements in appetite, mental state, and bowel movements.
If symptoms are severe or regulation effects are not obvious, consult a professional TCM practitioner for personalized pattern differentiation and treatment. Combined with herbal medicine regulation, effects will be more significant.