Uncovering the Weight Loss Secrets of the Chinese

The average Chinese diet is loaded with white rice, noodles, fried meats and rich sauces.  Chinese cuisine isn’t exactly figure-friendly but why are most Chinese so slim? How can they stay skinny and eat so much carbs? More importantly, how can you apply these dietary secrets to staying in shape? In today’s post, we are uncovering the dietary and fitness secrets of the Chinese:

Consuming Soup-Based Foods

A traditional Chinese meal is never complete without a soup as a starter. And in China, soups are mostly made up of leftovers spiced up into a flavorful broth. The idea is to nourish the body and minimize hunger pangs in one go. By consuming soup before the actual meal, you take in fewer calories. However, not all soups are created equal, some packs in a lot of calories.

Usually, soups with clear broth are lower in calories compared to soups with richer broth and slices of meat. We recommend a miso-based soup. Miso is a fermented soy product. It contains probiotics that aid in digestion. It’s also a filling base that will warm up the stomach and curb hunger.

Drinking More Tea

The Chinese are the world’s biggest tea drinker. And they do not discriminate at all. From the robust flavor of oolong tea to the slightly bitter taste of green tea, they will drink all kinds of tea before, during and after every meal. Chinese people love tea so much; they drink it more often than water.

Tea cleanses the stomach and intestines. It relieves hunger pangs and curbs cravings. Even better, tea contains antioxidant catechins. Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress that leads to chronic diseases. In addition, tea is filling. Just sip tea before a meal or during a meal and you’re bound to consume fewer calories.

More Vegetables

Contrary to popular belief, Chinese cuisine isn’t just about high cholesterol meats, stir-fry, and rich sauces. The Chinese love to add fresh vegetables to traditional dishes. They also use veggies as side dishes.

Vegetables contain essential nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. They are also low and calories and contain zero fats, when taken fresh or steamed. They contain fiber that bulks up the stool, protects from cardiovascular diseases and promotes healthy weight loss. Finally, veggies also speed up the metabolic rate. No doubt about it, vegetables are the perfect diet food.

Three Square Meals

The average Chinese diet follows the traditional three square meals per day as opposed to the very trendy six mini meals per day. They know the importance of eating right. They follow the three-meals-per-day diet in order to heal the body from within.

The Chinese are also not big fans of snacking. They consume more fruits and veggies because the Chinese believe in the healing power of plant-based foods.

Martial Arts and Meditation

Martial arts and meditation are deeply embedded in the Chinese culture. So it’s not surprising that most Chinese stays fit by participating in tai chi and other martial arts-based exercises. The elderly are particularly fond of meditation to achieve inner peace.

Consuming Fewer Calories

According to the World Health Organization, the Chinese consume 800 fewer calories than Americans do. That’s because the traditional Chinese diet is loaded with whole grains, fish and vegetables while western diet is composed of fatty, greasy meats. And this is one of the reasons why most Chinese are able to maintain their slender figure.