Edema is not conducive to weight loss, so the body's circulation should be adjusted

Many people are concerned about the fat on their bodies, but they don’t realize that if they have edema problems, it will not only increase their weight, but is also a warning sign that something is wrong with the body’s circulation. Chinese medicine practitioners remind that in addition to taking Chinese medicine to help regulate qi and expel water, ways to prevent persistent edema are to get enough sleep, avoid eating too salty a diet, and exercise moderately, especially for those who are losing weight, so as not to gain weight again easily.

Edema not only causes weight gain, but is also a warning sign that something is wrong with the body's circulation and may affect weight loss results. (Photography by Huang Zhiwen)

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the three major systems of the lungs, spleen, and kidneys are related to edema. Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Shifeng said that the lungs control the body's qi. If the lung qi is not smooth, it will easily lead to edema all over the body. The skin elasticity will deteriorate, so it will feel soft to the touch; the spleen is in charge of the lymphatic system, so poor circulation will cause edema of the lower limbs, which will feel hard to the touch but not as hard as muscles; Chinese medicine believes that the kidneys are originally the system in charge of water metabolism, and the edema that is reflected will extend from the waist to the lower body.

Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Shifeng said that women in particular often have problems with poor blood circulation. When the whole body is already swollen, if the diet is salty or too greasy, and if standing for a long time, it may also cause edema in the lower limbs. In the long run, it may damage the kidney's drainage function.

According to the experience of Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Shifeng, patients with edema constitution can lose an average of 0.5 kg per week after taking Chinese medicine, but some people can lose as much as 2 kg in one week. This shows that if the edema constitution is not changed, it is difficult to lose weight.

However, using medicine to drain water is not a permanent solution. To improve circulation and prevent excess water from accumulating in the body, a good lifestyle is necessary. Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Shifeng emphasizes the importance of adequate sleep. The definition of adequate sleep varies from person to person. It is not the more sleep the better, but the quality of sleep that allows you to restore your vitality. You must rest between 11 pm and 3 am so that the growth hormone in your body can help repair damaged cells and help the overall circulation.

In addition, eating a balanced diet, avoiding foods that are too salty or greasy, and exercising moderately can also help the body excrete water normally. Chinese medicine practitioner Chen Shifeng said that if you can establish such a lifestyle habit, you can achieve twice the result with half the effort when losing weight, and it is less likely to gain weight again.