From planning a summer gathering to doing errands, life can be quite busy.Rest and relaxation are probably after you’ve done everything you do that’s all About your heart. You might think that menopause is the reason for increased fatigue and lower energy levels. But another factor can be the cause: lack of qi.
We talked to Kiele-Jael Stanton, a certified health chef and culinary coach, about this flaw (and how to recover it with food).
What is deficiency?
Ki (pronounced “chi”) is a concept of Chinese medicine (TCM) that has existed for thousands of years. “Ki can be translated as [vital] Energy, material power, energy problems, or the vitality that exists within you. It’s constantly changing and evolving in the body, “Stanton explains. Women’s world..
It is important to maintain a healthy level of qi as it affects your energy level. “Body qi has a direct impact on your organs and health, tinkering with either excess or deficiency,” she adds. “Simply put, lack of energy means that your body is low in energy.”
What Causes Health Problems Related To This Care?
Life stress factors such as poor eating habits, emotional imbalances, and excessive exercise can cause deficiency and stagnation in organs from the spleen to the liver. Christopher Huffner (LAc), a TCM practitioner, explains how overproduction of the body’s qi can be counterproductive. “Excessive energy can cause stagnation and obstruction,” he wrote at the University of Minnesota.
How do I know if I’m feeling sick?
Stanton reveals several symptoms commonly associated with this defect. “General deficiency can cause fatigue, a weak pulse, and general illness,” she points out.
Published in Journal of traditional Chinese medicine List other signs of lack of qi. These include:
- Dyspnea
- Swollen tongue with tooth marks on the sides
- Spontaneous sweating
Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. In the meantime, you can take steps to treat your lack of qi naturally.
How do you treat deficiency?
Simple lifestyle adjustments can greatly help balance your body’s qi. Here are four suggestions from the AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine on reversing deficiency:
What are the good foods to relieve your deficiency?
Eating a healthy and balanced diet helps regulate the body’s qi production. Stanton recommends adding the following nutritious foods to your daily diet:
- Bone soup: Bone marrow stock or bone marrow broth is made by boiling animal bone and connective tissue, which contains a protein called collagen. This protein is an essential component of healthy bones, skin, hair, muscles, and blood flow.
- Ginger: A 2020 study found that anti-inflammatory compounds in ginger extract, such as 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol, reduced congestion, drowsiness, malaise, dizziness, and constipation in hay fever participants. Add ginger to your daily diet and drink ginger tea to make you feel better.
- Stewed green: Stewed vegetables are warm, easy to digest and rich in vitamins and nutrients. They also have an alkaline effect on the body, neutralizing excess acidity that can otherwise cause inflammation. Collard greens, spinach and tanpopo greens are wise choices.
- Steamed rice: Rice contains fiber, which helps relieve digestive problems and balance the lack of gastric and spleen qi. Brown rice, in particular, has been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetic adults. This is a necessary benefit to avoid feeling very tired.
- Nettle tea: Nettle is a good source of iron. A deficiency of this mineral leads to a condition called iron deficiency anemia (if there is a deficiency of healthy red blood cells). This common type of anemia includes symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
Incorporating healthy, vitamin-rich foods into your diet is a wise move, regardless of your health goals. As always, consult your doctor before embarking on changes in your health care.