By Han Manman (Beijing Today)
Updated: 2008-03-26 11:05

Wrong concept 4: Control underwear is a great way to firm and shape the figure, and it makes you look great.

Expert opinion: Wearing restrictive knickers can trigger a rash of health problems from having a damaging effect on breathing patterns to heartburn and even inflammation and ulcers of the stomach. Some people develop jock itch, an itchy, fungal infection of the skin. It can be caused by wearing clothes that are too tight or that are made of non-breathable fabrics.

These garments can cause chronic hyperventilation that leads to panic attacks and incontinence.

Wrong concept 5: The more seafood you eat, the better. It not only contains high nutrition but also low fat.

Expert opinion: Yes, it’s true that seafood contains high utrition, high protein and tastes great, but seafood has been confirmed to greatly increase the levels of uric acid in the blood, thus facilitating the occurrence of gout. Feasting on fish is OK – just not too much.

Wrong concept 6: High heels are the mainstay of the professional image and not only make you look slim but also shape the leg.

Expert opinion: They may look great but, in fact, high heels are one of the biggest factors leading to foot problems in women. They force your toes into tight confined areas crammed into the narrow toe box of the shoe, bending your toes into unnatural positions. As a result, you develop bumps and areas of thickened skin that rub painfully against your shoes. High heels are also the prime culprit in waist pain and could lead to the straining of lumbar muscles. Do not wear heels that are higher than three centimeters.

The body clock

Understanding your body’s timetable is essential to leading a healthy life. The Chinese Blood Circulation Meridian talks of a “ real clock” being contained within our bodies. Ancient Chinese practitioners used this timetable to prescribe medicine for their patients. It also represents how efficiently our organs function during certain periods. ence, it is a good guideline for people to achieve optimum health.

The timetables are: Liver (11 am – 1 pm); Gallbladder (1-3 am); Lungs (3-5 am); Colon (5-7 am); Stomach (7-9 am); Spleen (9-11 am); Heart 11 am – 1 pm); Intestine (1-3 pm); Bladder (3-5 pm); Kidney (5-7 pm); Blood vessels (7-9 pm); Lymph (9-11 pm).Based upon the timetable, a large amount of blood is concentrated in the liver from 11 pm to 1 am. The flow of blood into the liver will help to enhance the breakdown of toxins and the secretion of bile. This secretion is then stored in the gall bladder. So, the best time for the efficiency of the liver should be two hours earlier than that of the gall bladder. We easily tire during that time when the power of the liver decreases. The body’s fatigue may further cause diseases linked to the liver. To ensure that our liver rests well and regains its power, we should sleep before 11 pm. At 11 pm, the liver collects good nutrients from the blood. According to Chinese medicine, the liver is closely associated with wood and plants, and consuming green vegetables is good for this organ.

Between 7 and 9 am, a large amount of blood flows into the stomach to help enhance the digestion of food. Also, during this period, blood is concentrated in the pancreas to assist the breakdown of complex food into small molecules so that they can be absorbed easily into the bloodstream through the small intestine and transported to the all the body’s cells. That is why 7am is the ideal time to have breakfast as the next two hours are the best time for the stomach to digest food efficiently.

From 5 to 7 am, the blood is concentrated in the large intestine. At this time, the large intestine works efficiently to excrete the feces. If ingested food is not digested properly within 24 hours, the toxins in the feces will be reabsorbed by the water in the large intestine. This is a major reason why most people suffer from constipation.

According to the timetable, blood is concentrated in the lungs from 3 to 5 am. This is a good time to rest and to “recharge” the power of the lungs. Thus, the lungs should have enough rest to enhance their efficienc This fact explains why at this time the blood circulation is the slowest and the rate and frequency of breathing is minimal. Otherwise, the ability of the lungs will decrease if they do not get enough rest. So, make sure you avoid doing any activities at this particular time.

In short, do not do things that are in conflict with your body’s natural instincts, otherwise your body may just surrender and collapse one day

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