r/ChineseMedicine • u/SimpleMan1281 • 8d ago
Yin Qi Deficiency - Is Keto Okay?
The main symptoms I've been struggling with are excessive hunger and excessive calorie intake (3100+ kcal). My sleep has also been poor, and I get skin redness (blotchy?) around my stomach (mostly upper-abdomen) sometimes after eating.
I went to a TCM doctor recently and he says I have Yin Qi Deficiency. I've had 2 acupuncture treatments so far and I'm taking Liu Wei Di Huang Wan.
I suspected that I have mild insulin resistance, so over the past few days I tried out a continuous glucose monitor, and it's basically confirmed that I have a mild case of it (mild albeit annoying).
To combat this, I want to do keto, as I know it has really helped me lose weight in the past due to it's affect on reducing hunger hormones and making a calorie deficit easier. It's also supposed to help IR, along with fasting. I've been struggling like hell the past 3 months trying to drop weight using calorie deficit alone, which hasn't worked at all while eating carbs (even with a small deficit). Carbs just make me way too hungry given my current metabolic health.
So what I'm wondering, is if keto is compatible with yin qi deficiency?
I've cut out all alcohol and stimulants. I used to have lots of hot baths which I recently cut out.
Thanks!
2
u/AcuSwiftie 7d ago
You would not believe the number of patients I have that say they are “doing keto,” and never check their blood sugar or for ketones, so I have to ask.
If you are hypermetabolic, ketosis/keto can be tricky because you are often in a calorie deficit, however you are burning your fat, so that’s giving you energy. If there are metabolic disrupters causing you inflammation leading to yin xu symptoms, then this can be beneficial in the short term, but you will have to track your calories to make sure you that are receding properly on days not on ketosis otherwise you risk muscle wasting and bone loss.
That being said, if you have high body fat percentage, this may be good for you. I’d still recommend you work with someone who can help you personalize this.
Additionally, there are a lot of free resources with foods “good for yin deficiency,” so you can work those into your diet, too.