Differential diagnosis and treatment of congenital obesity: Exploring targeted soup-based weight loss formulas by delving into the theory of adipocytes.
When using soup for weight loss, besides considering individual constitution, we must also take into account the nature and severity of the underlying disease, as well as its cause and its relationship to the body's mechanisms. If a patient with water retention-type obesity doesn't have severe water retention, drinking a bowl of winter melon, water chestnut, and barley water can expel excess water from the body. However, for a patient with edema-type obesity, whose internal heat is already insufficient, drinking a bowl of winter melon, water chestnut, and barley water, while having diuretic and dampness-removing effects, is too cold in nature. Adding cold to cold can further weaken the body's yang energy. Therefore, it's crucial to choose soups appropriate for the specific condition.
Only when consumed according to the correct diagnosis can soup nourish the internal organs and eliminate excess body fat. Traditional Chinese medicine uses the same principle of diagnosis and treatment for both disease treatment and weight loss. Drinking soup under the correct diagnosis will have effects such as nourishing the body and reducing fat. Therefore, before using soup for weight loss, one should first understand their body constitution and type of obesity to ensure healthy and safe weight loss. Below are 32 therapeutic soup recipes for 16 common types of obesity.
Human fat is primarily stored within fat cells. Hypertrophic fat cell obesity, which typically occurs in adulthood, usually resolves with a gradual reduction in calorie intake. Fat cell hyperplasia obesity, on the other hand, refers to a continuous increase in the number of fat cells in the body. Once the number of fat cells increases, it is very difficult to reduce. Therefore, this type of obesity is more difficult to lose weight. If fat cells simultaneously enlarge and proliferate, it is called hypertrophic fat cell obesity. It is important to actively prevent hypertrophic fat cell obesity.
In fact, not everyone develops obesity due to fat cell proliferation. Generally speaking, weight gain in adulthood is mostly due to hypertrophic fat cell obesity, which is relatively easier to lose weight. To prevent obesity caused by fat cell proliferation, attention should be paid from childhood. This is because from the 30th week of gestation until one year after birth, fat cells proliferate quite rapidly. Once their number increases, it is very difficult to reduce them. Therefore, a chubby child may grow up to be obese all over, potentially leading to a lifetime of obesity.
Congenital obesity is mostly characterized by hypertrophic fat cell proliferation, resulting in a large number of fat cells in the body, making it a more difficult type of obesity to lose weight. Maintaining a stable number of fat cells and gradually reducing their size can also achieve weight loss. However, individuals with congenital obesity need to put in extra effort to lose weight. Congenital obesity is often characterized by hypertrophic fat cell proliferation, with the limbs and trunk showing significant obesity. Below are two appropriate herbal formulas:
(1) Lotus Leaf, Corn Silk, and Black Date Soup. Ingredients: Half a lotus leaf, 5 qian (approximately 15 grams) of corn silk, 10 black dates. Preparation: Simmer in 10 bowls of water for 1 hour. Efficacy: Strengthens the spleen and kidneys, promotes diuresis and removes dampness. Lotus leaf has a bitter taste and has the effects of relieving summer heat, clearing heat, strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea. Modern research indicates that lotus leaf also has good effects of lowering lipids and aiding weight loss. Corn silk has good effects of promoting diuresis, removing dampness, and reducing swelling. Black dates have a sweet taste and have the effects of nourishing the spleen and stomach, nourishing blood and calming the mind, and strengthening the body. The Compendium of Materia Medica states that jujubes "prolong life and lighten the body with long-term consumption".
(2) Tianqi, Chinese Yam, and Goji Berry Soup. Ingredients: 5 qian of Tianqi, 1 liang of Chinese yam, 5 qian of goji berries, half a chicken. Preparation: Simmer in 12 bowls of water for 2 hours. Efficacy: Promotes blood circulation and enhances vitality. Tianqi is sweet and slightly bitter, and has the effects of promoting blood circulation, stopping bleeding, dispersing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. Tianqi has the effect of lowering blood lipids and can be used for weight loss. Chinese yam has the effects of nourishing the lungs and kidneys, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Goji berries have the effects of nourishing yin and blood, tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence, and nourishing the liver and improving eyesight. In terms of lowering lipids, goji berries have special components that have a certain effect on preventing obesity and fatty liver.