Chinese Food Health gives you the basic approaches on how to nourish and preserve health in the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

You already have been physically active.  You also have had a sensible diet.  But you still can’t get rid of your flabby tummy.  Don’t give up; read on.  Probably bloating is to blame.  Bloating, indeed, has been a common issue for many people attempting to lose weight.

Not sure whether you really have bloating?  Find a plump area, push down with a finger.  If the spot rebounds very slowly, it indicates that besides fat, you have bloating.

“We should understand the cause of bloating so that we can get to the root of the problem,” Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioner said.  “According to TCM, our spleen, kidneys, and lungs all play their own part in contributing bloating.”

In fact, spleen is like a fluid processor.  If it doesn’t operate well, the absorption of the fluid that you have taken will be affected, resulting in water retention in the body. As for kidneys, their function is to discharge water from the body.  Thus, if the kidney function is not strong enough, bloating may occur or deepens.  Lungs, similarly, discharge sweat from the body.  If the lung function is not in its best shape, bloating forms.

Many people suffer from bloating may seem lazy to us as they don’t like to move much.  As a matter of fact, their limbs are just too weary caused by the bloating.

“Thankfully there are a number of foods actually do a pretty good job on easing bloating.  Coix seed, vigna umbellata (rice bean), and winter melon are some of them,” TCM Practitioner said.  “However, you should consult a doctor if your bloating is serious and constant that may due to other medical problems.”

Following recipes will help you mitigate bloating while curbing your hunger.

Coix Seed Porridge 

Ingredients (1-person portion) :

• 30 grams coix seeds
• 50 grams rice

Method:

• Wash all ingredients and put them in a pot.
• Add water and bring it to a boil.  Then simmer over low heat until porridge forms.
• Eat twice a day, morning and night.

**************************************************

Water Melon Soup

Ingredients (3-person portion) :

• 1,000 grams water melon
• 3 pieces dried scallops
• 3 pieces dried duck kidneys
• 150 grams lean pork
• 80 grams vigna umbellata (rice bean)
• 4 pieces preserved jujubes (Chinese date)
• 1 piece dried citrus peel
• 3 slices ginger
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Wash all ingredients.  Let dried scallops, dried duck kidneys, and vigna umbellata steep in water (just enough to cover)  for 1 hour.  Then drain.
• Tear dried scallops into shreds.  Cut dried duck kidneys into pieces.
• Skin winter melon, remove seeds, and cut into pieces.
• Put all ingredients in a pot.  Add 2,500 ml (10 cups) water.  Bring the water to a boil, then simmer over low-heat for 2 hours.
• Add salt and serve.

Image by mikebaird