Scalding hot soup is a major no-no for weight loss; learn to calculate calories; hawthorn is good for weight loss and longevity.

Why are "soup" and "hot soup" considered major taboos for weight loss?

Obese individuals face many taboo habits and foods when trying to lose weight. If these habits and foods are not eliminated, it will be difficult to successfully lose weight. Among the many forbidden habits and foods for weight loss, "soup" and "scalding hot" are particularly taboo.

Soup is a staple food for Chinese people, especially those in southern China. Every meal includes soup, which is typically made from highly nutritious ingredients, rich in fats, amino acids, and starches. Compared to other foods, soup enters the small intestine much faster, within half an hour. Because the broth is more evenly distributed in the small intestine, it has a large absorption surface area and is easily digested and absorbed. Therefore, drinking soup can easily lead to weight gain.

"Hot" refers to consuming very hot food. This is because high-temperature food can irritate the intestinal walls.

Vasodilation increases the activity of digestive glands, thus promoting digestion and absorption, and consequently increasing the chances of absorbing sugary and fatty foods into the body. Therefore, eating excessively hot food is a major no-no for weight loss.

234 Why should you learn to calculate the calories in your food?

Obesity is clearly related to excessive calorie intake and insufficient calorie expenditure. If obese individuals can properly manage their calorie intake, it will greatly benefit their weight loss. Therefore, obese individuals must learn to calculate the calories in their food and correctly determine the optimal ratio of calories provided by the three major nutrients in their daily diet. Then, avoiding obesity is entirely achievable.

A calorie, or kcal for short, is a unit of heat. One calorie is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1°C. Because the unit of measurement is relatively small, it is usually expressed in "kilocalories" or "calories." A kilocalorie and a calorie are 1000 times the calories in a calorie. Normally, one gram of carbohydrates (starch from grains) provides approximately 4 kilocalories, one gram of fat provides 9 kilocalories, and one gram of protein provides 4 kilocalories. The ideal balanced calorie intake for humans is generally 50% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 30% fat. Of course, due to differences in age, occupation, and other factors, each person's daily calorie requirement will vary. For people under 40 years old, the daily calorie requirement is their ideal body weight multiplied by 26.4. For people over 40 years old, simply multiply their ideal body weight by 22. Excessive calorie intake will be stored in the body, leading to overweight and obesity.

255. Why is hawthorn hailed as a weight-loss and longevity-promoting food?

Hawthorn, also known as red fruit, is one of the most common fruits. Its medicinal value has long been recognized by the ancients. The *Daily Materia Medica*, compiled by Wu Rui, a famous physician of the Yuan Dynasty, records that hawthorn "resolves indigestion, promotes the flow of qi, strengthens the stomach and relieves bloating, and eliminates blood stasis and lumps." For a long time, hawthorn has been an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, playing a role in treating and preventing diseases. With in-depth research into hawthorn by modern medicine, it has also been found to have effects such as dilating blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, and strengthening the heart. Later, modern pharmacological research and clinical treatment have shown that hawthorn...

Hawthorn has a therapeutic effect because regular consumption of hawthorn is very beneficial for cancer prevention and treatment.

Of course, hawthorn's popularity is primarily due to its lipid-lowering and weight-loss properties. Modern pharmacological research shows that the flavonoids and triterpenoids in hawthorn can dilate peripheral blood vessels, resulting in a slow and sustained antihypertensive effect. Hawthorn can significantly increase the activity of auguin (superoxide dismutase, SOD) and significantly decrease the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO), while also significantly reducing lipid peroxides (LPO) and lipofuscin. Furthermore, it can eliminate lipid deposits in the coronary arteries, as well as elastic fiber rupture, defects, ulcers, and thrombosis. Therefore, hawthorn's reputation as a weight-loss and longevity-promoting food seems well-deserved.

Why are acidic foods beneficial for weight loss?

Many people believe that excessive fat accumulation in the body is mainly due to undigested food. Acidic foods are thought to stimulate appetite and aid digestion, so consuming more acidic foods might be beneficial for weight loss.

The folk method of using acidic foods for weight loss has some merit. Acidic foods contain a large amount of amino acids, which have the unique ability to consume excess body fat and convert it into energy. They also facilitate the metabolism of sugars and proteins, reduce the greasiness of fats, and preserve vitamin C. Therefore, acidic foods can be effective for weight loss. However, excessive consumption of acidic foods can be counterproductive, as they can increase appetite. Increased appetite and intake may result in consuming more calories than the fat lost through acidic foods, leading to a net loss. Therefore, moderate consumption of acidic foods can be beneficial for weight loss, but it should never be consumed blindly to avoid the undesirable situation of gaining weight instead of losing it.