Chinese Medicine vs. Intermittent Fasting

abnerchiang5574
abnerchiang5574 Posts: 24 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey folks,

I’ve been diving deep into the world of health and wellness, and I thought it would be cool to chat about the differences and clashes between Chinese medicine and intermittent fasting. Personally, I’m all about that ancient wisdom from Chinese medicine, and I have some questions about intermittent fasting, especially the hardcore “one meal a day” stuff.

Chinese medicine rocks because it’s all about balance – Yin and Yang! It’s about finding that sweet spot where everything’s harmonious. Intermittent fasting, though, seems to go full throttle, which makes me wonder if it messes with the balance we’re striving for in Chinese medicine.

Here are a few things I’m curious about:

1. Balance Check: In Chinese medicine, it’s all about keeping your Qi and blood in check. Intermittent fasting, especially the intense versions, can get a little too “Yang” (that’s the excessive side) for my taste.
2. Feeding the Machine: Chinese medicine says, “Eat a bit of everything.” But fasting can mean saying no to essential nutrients for long stretches. Is that cool, or is it too extreme?
3. One Size Fits None: Chinese medicine is all about personalised approaches. We’re unique, and what works for one might not work for another. Intermittent fasting can feel a bit one-size-fits-all, especially the “one meal a day” deal.

I’m here to share some insights, and swap stories with all you health and wellness fans. Let’s talk about the pros, cons, and whether we can find some middle ground between these health philosophies.

This thread’s all about laid-back, friendly discussion, and a chance to connect with peeps who dig Chinese medicine’s holistic vibe. Drop your thoughts!

Replies

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,755 Member
    I think everyone needs to find what works for them. For some, it's fasting, for some, it's veganism, for some, it's carnivore, or keto, or ..... As such, I don't think one is better than the other. Now, if you're talking about Chinese medicine itself... it's.... something one can do if they enjoy it I suppose, much like anything else.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    While MFP considers 12:12 to be a legit IF timeframe, I don't know anyone here who does it for real. I say I IF 12:12 ironically.

    So there's no need to to OMAD or go long stretches of time.

    Many people have mentioned they are essentially either skipping breakfast or night time snacking. Seems balanced to me :smile:

    (There were some mouse studies that showed benefits to fasting mice. I've yet to see any human studies I found compelling.)
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,216 Member
    edited October 2023
    Not sure there's a comparative connection to intermittent fasting with TCM. A friend of many years is into Qigong and I'm quite familiar with it and we've discussed it for many years. Qi as I'm sure you know, everyone has Qi which is a persons healing energy and this discipline is removing the negative Qi and getting back a normal invigorating Qi pronounced "chee". He feels it's helpful and has a small hand bag filled with the supplements that he takes daily and uses acupuncture patches (probably 20 or 30 at a time) that are worn throughout the day and night and complains some come off in the shower. Anyway I find it quite fascinating and interesting but I'm a science guy and need to look at data and know things like active mechanisms, so it's a little woo in my opinion, but like I said, each to their own.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    While MFP considers 12:12 to be a legit IF timeframe, I don't know anyone here who does it for real. I say I IF 12:12 ironically.

    So there's no need to to OMAD or go long stretches of time.

    Many people have mentioned they are essentially either skipping breakfast or night time snacking. Seems balanced to me :smile:

    (There were some mouse studies that showed benefits to fasting mice. I've yet to see any human studies I found compelling.)
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    While MFP considers 12:12 to be a legit IF timeframe, I don't know anyone here who does it for real. I say I IF 12:12 ironically.

    So there's no need to to OMAD or go long stretches of time.

    Many people have mentioned they are essentially either skipping breakfast or night time snacking. Seems balanced to me :smile:

    (There were some mouse studies that showed benefits to fasting mice. I've yet to see any human studies I found compelling.)

    I guess I’m currently doing about 9/15 or 10/14 (if you write it this way) but still have breakfast, intermediate, lunch, second intermediate, dinner, dessert, after exercise snack. Foodwise it properly comes close to the Mediterranean diet, with one cooked meal per day. Yeah, one can fit many different food moments in 9 hours.
  • ddsb1111
    ddsb1111 Posts: 871 Member
    edited October 2023
    abnerchiang5574 wrote: »
    Hey folks,

    I’ve been diving deep into the world of health and wellness, and I thought it would be cool to chat about the differences and clashes between Chinese medicine and intermittent fasting. Personally, I’m all about that ancient wisdom from Chinese medicine, and I have some questions about intermittent fasting, especially the hardcore “one meal a day” stuff.

    Chinese medicine rocks because it’s all about balance – Yin and Yang! It’s about finding that sweet spot where everything’s harmonious. Intermittent fasting, though, seems to go full throttle, which makes me wonder if it messes with the balance we’re striving for in Chinese medicine.

    Here are a few things I’m curious about:

    1. Balance Check: In Chinese medicine, it’s all about keeping your Qi and blood in check. Intermittent fasting, especially the intense versions, can get a little too “Yang” (that’s the excessive side) for my taste.
    2. Feeding the Machine: Chinese medicine says, “Eat a bit of everything.” But fasting can mean saying no to essential nutrients for long stretches. Is that cool, or is it too extreme?
    3. One Size Fits None: Chinese medicine is all about personalised approaches. We’re unique, and what works for one might not work for another. Intermittent fasting can feel a bit one-size-fits-all, especially the “one meal a day” deal.

    I’m here to share some insights, and swap stories with all you health and wellness fans. Let’s talk about the pros, cons, and whether we can find some middle ground between these health philosophies.

    This thread’s all about laid-back, friendly discussion, and a chance to connect with peeps who dig Chinese medicine’s holistic vibe. Drop your thoughts!

    🙋🏼‍♀️ It’s me! I’m the extremist that does OMAD (one meal a day) lol. My husband does it as well. No one would ever know we eat once a day because we sit down and have a balanced dinner with everyone else. Lunch and breakfast, who has that as a group anymore? So, we’re not missed.

    Feel free to ask me anything. In regards to your questions, it’s in no way extreme for us, imbalanced, or against Chinese medicine in any way. In fact, my husband is Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cambodian, so I’m familiar with Qi.

    My response to 1-3
    1. What does eating once a day have anything to do with eating balanced?
    2. You can eat anything while doing IF, timing has nothing to do with it.
    3. IF can be done in a plethora of ways, so not sure what you mean when saying it’s a one size fits all.

    You might also find that fasting is not opposed to Chinese medicine but part of it. The purpose of fasting in Chinese medicine is to address stagnation, as stagnation prevents energy and blood circulating in the body. It mainly starts from food, but can also come from mental blockage related to emotions and trauma (that’s the theory).
  • Corina1143
    Corina1143 Posts: 3,624 Member
    edited October 2023
    I typically eat 6 hours, fast 18. But I don't call it IF. I just call it eating when I'm hungry. If I'm hungry outside the normal times, I eat.
    That probably qualifies as IF. Does it fit your Chinese beliefs?
    What do you think about keto, high protein and carnivore?
  • abnerchiang5574
    abnerchiang5574 Posts: 24 Member
    Corina1143 wrote: »
    I typically eat 6 hours, fast 18. But I don't call it IF. I just call it eating when I'm hungry. If I'm hungry outside the normal times, I eat.
    That probably qualifies as IF. Does it fit your Chinese beliefs?
    What do you think about keto, high protein and carnivore?

    Hey there,

    It's great to hear about your eating pattern, which sounds a lot like intermittent fasting, even if you don't call it that. Eating when you're hungry makes a lot of sense and aligns with listening to your body's cues. And it's cool that you're flexible about it – that's a more intuitive approach.

    As for how it fits into Chinese beliefs, I'm all about the idea of balance, and it seems like your approach might actually be in line with that. Chinese medicine often emphasises harmony, and if your eating habits help you feel good and maintain balance, that's pretty awesome.

    Regarding keto, high protein, and carnivore diets, I think there's a wide spectrum of beliefs and preferences out there, just like with any dietary approach. It's fantastic that you're exploring different options. Personally, I find the idea of "eating a bit of everything" from Chinese medicine to be quite appealing, but it's also about what works best for each individual.

    This thread is all about sharing insights and having laid-back discussions, so I'm excited to hear more about your experiences and what you've learned on your health journey.

    Feel free to drop more thoughts or questions, and let's keep this friendly exchange going!
  • Corina1143
    Corina1143 Posts: 3,624 Member
    I'm 73. The older I get, the better I feel about doing my own thing. Have been listening on u tube about blood type diet. it's amazing how true to my blood type I eat. But not really. I eat much like my ancestors ate. Blood types tend to come from our ancestors, too. So do our bodies, and the way they work. So maybe it was predictable.
    I also eat more "winter" foods in the winter of my life. I always liked onions and garlic. Now I crave them.
    I love meat and eggs, but I can't stand the idea of eating only meat.
    I automatically eat lower carb than many, but no way am I going keto.
    I wouldn't say I eat even close to a "healthy" Chinese diet. I refuse to eat rice. Too many options I like too much better. Probably too meat heavy.
    Just my opinion. Maybe you prefer the chinese diet because of your genetics. Or your blood type. Anyway, it may very well be the best choice for you.

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