Chinese physicians developed four methods of drying the body, a prerequisite in dealing with obesity. The first is to promote urination, which may be compared to diuretics in Western medicine.

Small red beans, corn and corn silk, Job's tears and the peel of wax gourd significantly promote urination. Soybeans and Garlic also be used to promote urination.

Some people think that the more you eat, the more weight you will gain, which is not true. According to the traditional Chinese theory, it depends on what you are eating. The more small red beans you eat, for example, the more weight you lose. Theregore, small red beans are absolutely not recommended for skinny people, particularly childreb, because a prolonged consumption of them will make them lose weight. A 100g small red beans contain 319 calories which is about the same as beefsteak. But it is important to remember that small red beans can promote urination and dry up the body, which is lacking in beefsteak.

The second method of getting rid of water in the body: Absorb tissue fluids in the body. Absorbing water inside the body is like using a cotton ball to soak up water in a glass; promoting urination removes water from the body through excretion. The majority of foods and herbs that can absorb the water inside the body are aromatic and the two used most frequently are broad beans and hyacinth beans. The aromatic foods not only absorb water inside the body, but can stop diarrhea for the same reason. Diarrhea means discharge of extremely watery stools when the water is absorbed, the stools dry and there will be no more diarrhea.

The third method of eliminating water is to cool the body to facilitate water passage. A dry-hot physical constitution is not prone to obesity as is damp-hot physical constitution. This is how it works. What happens if you set fire to wet firewood? It won't burn quickly but can only produce smoke, which is bad. Similarly, when water and heat mix in the body, neither will go away. The result is difficulty when urinating or discharge of reddish urine in small quantities. The strategy, therefore, is to cool the body, allowing water to flow. Foods or herbs which is a cold energy and a bitter flavor are used for this purpose, because cold energy can cool the body and bitter flavor can dry it.

Bitter gourd can significantly cool the body, reduce nervous tension due to its cold energy and also soften the stools due to its bitter flavor.

Mung beans, mung beans sprouts or powder may also be used by people with a hot-damp constitution to rid the body of excessive water. Mung bean also has an extremely detoxicating effect, useful in dealing with many hot symptoms, such as skin eruptions of a hot nature and inflammation of internal organs.

The fourth method of eliminating excessive body water is to warm the body. This method can be used by people with a cold-damp constitution, which may be compared to a mountain of ice. The strategy is to warm up the body so that the water can flow out of the body, either through urination and perspiration. The foods producing best results should have a warm or hot energy and a pungent-sweet flavor. How or warm energy increases body heat, pungent flavor increases perspiration and a sweet or light flavor promoted urination. Cinnamon twig satisfies these three conditions. A tome-honored Chinese herbal formula called five diuretics contains five ingredients: Two absorb water in the body, two promote urination and the last ingredient, cinnamon twig, is included to warm the body and facilitate water passage. Regular consumption of fresh ginger can warm the body and induce persipation simultaneously.

After the excessive water in the body has been removed and the body is dry, the person should be slim and stay in good shape. But how does a person remain slim and stay in good shape unless the body can stop retaining water? By using Food Tonics in your diet you can increase the fire of the kidneys, which will help you maintain your perfect weight and improve overall health.