Slimming and Weight Loss

It often comes as a surprise to many people to learn that Chinese medicine has a very long and successful tradition of weight loss techniques. The Chinese tradition of weight loss differs to many modern approaches. In Chinese medicine it is principally believed that being overweight is due to problems with the digestive system. This does not mean that you do not have to watch your diet and exercise but it does mean that if you improve your digestion the weight becomes easier to shift. Traditionally both Chinese herbs and acupuncture have been used to help weight loss. In fact in one study conducted in Chinese hospitals it was found that 80% of participants lose weight with appropriate acupuncture despite having no change in diet or exercise levels. If you are interested in learning more about this form of weight loss please see our article 'Lose it with TCM' in the July 2009 edition of Well Being magazine.
 

Slimming Tea & Weight Loss Tea

If you do not have time for treatment by a practitioner then the most effective thing you can adapt from Chinese Medicine at home is the drinking of Chinese weight loss tea. This can come in several forms. The most common and easily attainable is oolong teas such as Tie Guan Yin. Oolong tea comes from the same plant as both green and black tea. The difference is that while green tea is unfermented and black tea is fully fermented, oolong tea is partially fermented. In the case of a famous oolong tea such as Tie Guan Yin tea it is about 20% fermented so retaining most of the antioxidant properties of green tea while being gentler on the digestion.

In Chinese medicine oolong tea has long been considered to improve digestion and raise metabolism. Its ability to raise the body’s metabolism and improve fat oxidation was recently proven by a clinical trial conducted by the University of Tokushima in Japan (1). This study provides strong scientific evidence for the weight loss effects of oolong tea. In addition to its effects on weight loss oolong tea has many of the same positive benefits now being advertised for green tea. Good quality oolong teas such as Tie Guan Yin make an easy addition to any weight loss program and best of all they also taste great.

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In addition to oolong tea there are also specialised weight loss teas in Chinese medicine derived from a variety of herbal teas. These teas work in a number of ways. They usually work to improve digestion, increase fat oxidation and in some cases have a mild diuretic effect. Please be careful when buying any weight loss tea that works purely as a diuretic as this will not provide true lasting weight loss and can be detrimental to your health with long term use. White Lotus stocks a weight loss tea made from a traditional combination of lotus leaf and oolong tea. Lotus leaf was traditionally combined with Oolong tea in Chinese medicine to treat obesity, lower blood lipid levels and prevent heatstroke as well as many other disorders. This comes in easy to use tea bags and also tastes good.

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(1) Rumpler, W et al. 2001. Oolong tea increases metabolic rate and fat oxidation in men, The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J Nutrition, 2848 -2852.