How To Lose Weight With Chinese Teas And Herbs

You’ve asked me to talk about how to lose weight with Chinese tea and herbs. I’m here to please!

At a recent tea festival, I was able to overhear a 3rd generation tea farmer. He was talking about the Western world’s weight loss secret of green tea. He laughed. Then said this: “ Green tea will not make you lose weight”. He’s right. But what green tea does is help speed up your metabolism. So How do you lose weight with Chinese teas and herbs?  Green tea can also curb your appetite. But what makes you lose weight is movement. By doing both together you win/win.

Chinese tea and herbs are no different. Each has properties to benefit you during a fast or weight loss period.

Weight loss choices

If you follow me you know one of the things I am famous for is my 15-day juice-only fast. It was fabulous. If you talk to me about it you will hear the excitement in my voice. Yes, I lose weight but more than that I felt amazing. Aches and pains went away. I had more energy and my sleep was sound.

If you’re interested in following that journey go HERE 

There is all sort of choices people make to lose weight. But how many of us think about Chinese herbs and teas?

Lately, I’ve been including Chinese medicine as well as Ayurvedic in my healings. Of course, I use western medicine, it’s what I was raised on. I’ve realized more and more that there is more than just western medicine. Now I incorporate all three and get both of all the world of healing. I regress.

The decision to lose weight is a personal one. No one knows you besides you. Deciding to lose weight with Chinese teas and herbs is a good direction.  

There are conventional diet methods as well as alternative and medically proven. Chinese herbs may not have even been a thought, until now.

 

Green tea

In all my articles you will see I share how green tea is the least processed of all the teas. Because it’s less processed it allows more digestive aids to come forward. Green tea helps aid digestion and stave off hunger. Green tea also helps remove toxins from the body.

Green tea is a staple in a Chinese household. Those that process the teas know. Green tea is one of the best teas for removing toxins and free radicals from the body. Free radicals cause damage to cells and by eliminating the damaged cells we have a chance at being healthier longer.

Green tea is high in antioxidants. These antioxidants help lower the risk of cancers and protect the brain from unhealthy aging.

While some will tell you green tea will help you lose weight. I will tell you green tea is healthy, it causes. you not want to eat more and it removes toxins. Green tea also speeds up your metabolism. So when you do an exercise you get more fat burning than if you had not been drinking green tea. This is where the idea comes from that green tea helps you lose weight.

 

Chinese herbs that help you lose weight

 

Ginger – I used to not enjoy ginger. Now I love it. Ginger is an herb that will heal your body. If you are cold due to fasting grab some ginger tea and enjoy the warmth. Ginger also helps boost your metabolism. Ginger may also reduce hunger pains and decrease fat absorption.

Ginseng – Ginseng comes in a few varieties: American, Chinese, and Korean. When I think of ginseng I am always reminded of Chinese herbal remedies and skin care products. Another herb that increases metabolism as well as reducing fat absorption. This study shows how taking Korean ginseng helped reduce body weight as well as changing the gut microbiome.

Cinnamon – I’m crazy about cinnamon these days. I put it on my oatmeal and use it when making a glaze for my roasted nuts. Cinnamon has a calming medicinal scent. It reminds people of holidays, bakeries, and peace. Cinnamon also controls blood sugar levels and is a powerful antioxidant.

Lotus Seed – The lotus seed is a very interesting-looking plant. For a while, it made its appearance on the internet as a skin infection and got a lot of people upset. But, the lotus seed is a valuable plant, not so popular as other herbs. Another metabolism-increasing herb. Lotus seed may also help the kidneys and spleen. Lotus seeds are chock-full of fiber, calcium, and potassium. This helps create a good environment for your digestive system.

Hawthorne Berries – I remember hearing about these when I was a child. From what I remember the berries are sour and pungent. But what I know now about sour is that it’s a great source for our digestion and microbiome. Hawthrone berries create a great atmosphere in our stomachs by reducing acid and speeding up food digestion.

Goji Berries – another obscure berry that is becoming more and more popular in the western world. I make a splendid trail mix including goji berries. Goji berries are said to have a positive effect on our kidneys. The antioxidants contained in them also help aid digestion.

Licorice Root – One of the things I love about Licorice root is the fact that it adds a touch of sweetness to any beverage. Licorice can balance a bitter herb and make it more palatial easier. More than that, licorice is a digestive aid. The licorice will aid in digestion. Licorice also aids in swelling. Itching and redness of skin issues.

Aged Mandarin Peel – Something becoming more popular is teas that are aged inside oranges or mandarins. Aged mandarin peels can be added to your tea. They are a bit bitter. They are a high source of vitamin C. Aged mandarin peels also fight off harmful bacteria and free radicals. This is because of a higher concentration of antioxidants.

**Contact me for more information about this tea

 

Benefits of Chinese herbs 

Before we get into herbs and teas I want to encourage you to include movement into your daily plan. Walk, bike, run, jog, pushups, jumping jacks, just MOVE! It’s so good for your entire body and it speeds up your weight loss journey.

Oh and a reminder: those snacks and sweets are not part of a healthy weight loss journey.

Chinese herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Before western medicine, we had Chinese medicine.

The healing properties of Chinese herbs and teas are well known for their benefit with; 

• Allergies
• Heart Health
• Lungs and Breathing
• Mental matters

Chinese medicines focus on the cause, not the symptoms. This is a reverse idea with Western medicine. Chinese medicine will focus on an organ instead of the symptom complained about.

More veggies, less meat

More veggies, less meat 

Chinese diets are plant-based and center around vegetables with small amounts of fish or poultry. The Chinese also do not use the word calorie. Food is energy. Vegetables are the main focus on the dinner table, not a side dish.

Studying the Chinese diet for. The year is a study called Campbell’s research. The study states the Chinese diet contains only about 20% of animal foods. The animal products they do eat are not fried. 

Compared to the Western world the Chinese have fewer cancers (breast, colon, and rectal). Their count of diabetes is also lower.

Let’s look at a day in the Chinese diet: 

Breakfast

• Rice pudding

Lunch

• Rice with veggies small amounts of meat

Dinner

• Rice with veggies as well as other vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and greens. Maybe some tofu, beef, or pork.

Compare that to your diet (or mine).

A yin/yang kitchen

Yin/yang is a balance. A good weight loss kitchen has a balance to it, much like the Chinese kitchen.

Yin stands for cold dishes that cool the body down. Yin is moist and wet

Yang is the spicy warm dish that warm a body up. Yang is dry and crisp. 

• Meat
• Spices
• Wine
• Coffee

The mouthfeel of a meal is important. By adding a carb (soft), a protein (chewy), and a grain (crunch) you get that desired feel. But not only is that meal satisfying it is balanced and so good for you.

Conclusion

No doubt tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. Teas and herbs are beneficial to our bodies losing weight or not. You can never go wrong with partaking in a tea or an herb.

On your weight loss journey remember to move more, breathe harder and stay focused.  Opening the door to Chinese teas and herbs to lose weight not only is safe but a healthy way to start on your weight loss journey.

Make sure the herbs and tea you partake of are focused on assisting your journey. Whether they assist you in elimination, fat-burning, or speeding up that metabolism.

Enjoy your journey and let me know how you are doing!