We are what we eat. The statement is true everywhere and for everybody. We want to help parents to learn healthy eating habits for their kids in order to prevent obesity and related diseases.
According to modern TCM practitioners, ancient Chinese medical professionals were aware of obesity and its symptoms and causes. The ancients believed that obesity results from unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and psychological factors. Then, as now, TCM practice addresses the dire effects of unhealthy lifestyles. According to TCM theory, unhealthy phlegm and moisture caused by too sweet, too greasy, deep fried or full of artificial ingredients food, create fatty deposits around the inner organs and under the skin. Once the spleen is damaged by overeating sweet foods, waste products accumulate and congeal into phlegm and fat tissue. A TCM diet must restore harmony to the unbalanced spleen and other body functions.
Doctor Qiqing Li recommends restoring balance to the stomach to promote healthy fat break down and absorption. Certain herbs and foods promote healthy circulation, eliminate phlegm in the chest and break down fats in the liver and gall bladder. To eliminate dampness, TCM advises foodwith diuretic action.
TCM diet focuses on effective herbs and foods that will bring balance back to a system drastically out of harmony in obese people. Doctor Qiqing Li and other TCM practitioners prescribe herbs such as hawthorn and radish to restore the stomach’s ability to secrete digestive fluids and digest fat in the stomach. According to Chinese practitioners, Chinese angelica, red sage root and notoginseng are among Chinese herbs used to increase sluggish circulation. Herbs to relieve chest stuffiness include Chinese chive bulbs and mandarin orange peel. Common herbs prescribed to treat stagnant liver and gall bladder include artemisia and turmeric. Indian bread and rhubarb have diuretic action and promote balance in the large intestine, respectively. But the best approach would be to consult doctor Qiqing Li on your child’s obesity problems. He will choose the right herbal and natural medications.
TCM diet for obesity does not negate the need for overall healthy eating and exercise. This ancient Chinese holistic science rounds out a robust approach to weight loss by working to create healthy blood, organs and bodily functions. A Chinese medicine diet is not a quick fix for obesity. The patient must participate in his/her weight loss and wellness. Unlike so many marketed weight loss plans, the Chinese medicine diet has thousands of years to support its approaches.
A child is considered to be overweight if his body mass index (BMI) is greater than the 85th percentile when plotted on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. A child is considered to be obese if her BMI is greater than the 95th percentile when plotted on the CDC’s growth chart. Children who are seven years or younger and who are considered obese should aim to maintain their weight over the years so that their height and weight may eventually balance out. Older children can aim to lose one to two pounds per week by eating a calorie-controlled diet.
Children who are obese are more likely to develop insulin resistance. Insulin resistance may occur as a part of metabolic syndrome or it may eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Children who have metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk of later developing serious conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, and vascular problems.
Children who are obese are also more likely to experience breathing problems. They may frequently experience shortness of breath with physical exertion. Some may develop asthma, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Also, obese children are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, which puts them at greater risk for future heart problems.
High blood pressure is also a concern for obese children. Carrying extra weight puts more strain on the heart and can cause the blood pressure to be higher than normal. Over time, high blood pressure can cause serious damage to the heart and its arteries and vessels. Also, obese children are at an increased risk of suffering from high cholesterol levels. Excess cholesterol in the blood can create blockages that may lead to heart problems such as heart attack.
Children who are considerably overweight are more likely to develop liver disease. They are also more likely to develop gallstones, which may necessitate the removal of their gallbladders.
In addition, obesity can trigger puberty to begin sooner than normal.
Obese children are more likely to suffer from eating disorders at some point and may also deal with psychological issues such as anxiety and depression.
What are the main points to follow with obese or overweight kids?
1. not overeating (and eating every 3 hours in small portions)
2. consuming less sugar (as little as possible)
3. never consuming any product with artificial sugar (e.g. ”diet” soda), artificial colorings or conservants
4. reducing high-calorie snacks
5. avoiding over salted or smoked products (cold cuts, smoked meats or fish products)
5. avoiding or reducing foods high in saturated and hydrogenated fats (ice-creams, French fries, cold cuts)
6. increasing fiber intake (by eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds)
7. shopping for and learning about healthier foods and eliminating temptation foods from the house
A. Sugar is a prime target of nutritionists. Diabetic diets prohibit consumption of foods high in sugar because diabetics have problems producing a chemical called insulin, which helps the body break down sugars. Non-diabetic children should limit their sugar intake as well, but simply eating sugar will not cause diabetes. Calories should be the main target when controlling a child’s diet. Parents can allow children to include sugar in their diets, provided they limit the portions of sugary foods. Sugary foods are much higher in calories than other food groups like vegetables or grains; however, sugar-free foods often have as many calories as their sugar-full twins. As a result, eating two sugar-free cookies has just as many calories as two sugar cookies, causing the same amount of weight gain. Instead, limiting a cookie snack to one cookie a day is a much more effective strategy than offering a child sugar-free cookies.
B. Fats are another “no- no,” in the world of dieting. The myth surrounding fats is that if you eat them you will become fat. This theory is false. Children, especially, need fat in their diet for growth and healthy skin and hair. Like sugar, fat contains more calories than other nutrients. Therefore, limiting the serving amounts is a proper solution to including them in a child’s diet. Read the label on any product containing fat like butter or milk and factor in the recommended serving size. Limit your child’s diet to two to three servings of fat per day. Switching to a lower-fat substitute is helpful if you are not increasing the portion size.
C. Too much salt in food keeps too much water in our body, makes us swollen, puffy, raising the blood pressure and possibilities of gout, metabolism problems, skin diseases, and eventually stroke or heart attack.
D. Serving sizes of pre-packaged foods can be found on the labels of the food. Stick to the serving sizes on the packages and then add them to your child’s diet in the following way. Every day, your child should eat five servings of vegetables and fruits. Meat is high in protein, but lean meat is healthier for your child than fried meats or red meat. Offer your child about an ounce of meat at each meal. A good reference for an ounce of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. Fish and eggs are good for kids. Hard boiled eggs are excellent breakfast and (accordingly to all modern studies) do not make your cholesterol higher. Limit snacks to one serving. Offer fruits or nuts as a substitute for desert and encourage your child to drink water in place of juice or soda any time possible.
Let us help you with the list of food products considered by Chinese medicine NOT HEALTHY in general and for the kids (especially obese) in particular. They should be eaten in extreme moderation, minimized or avoided:
Sugar, cookies, too much of bread, croissants, bagels ( “empty” calories, too little vitamins and minerals), food and “diet” drinks with artificial sugar, corn (too much sugar, too rough fiber to break down), ice creams (too much sugar, fats, too cold for the normal stomach activities), potatoes (too much sugar, too many chemicals), any deep fried, over salted or smoked food (sausages, hot dogs, hams, hamburgers, the majority of the cheeseburgers and cheeses, smoked meats and fish), milk and milk products should better be organic (too many antibiotics, pesticides), caffeinated drinks and sodas of any kind (e.g. Pepsi, Coca Cola, Red Bull), fruit juices (usually one glass – double daily norm of sugar!!! Always dilute with water!).
About the author: ChineseHerbalAdviser
