Q. How do I start a diet tailored to my body constitution?

When starting a constitution-based diet, it's natural to wonder where to begin. I've made mistakes dieting without considering constitution before, so now I explain the steps to patients clearly. **Step 1: Get an accurate constitutional diagnosis.** At the clinic, three examinations (inspection, inquiry, palpation) are performed. Pulse diagnosis (脈診) and abdominal diagnosis (腹診) evaluate digestive function and fluid metabolism. The four constitutional types (Taeyang, Soyang, Taeeum, Soeum) are used, but treatment is individualized—for example, a Soeumin with severe spleen deficiency (脾虛) versus combined kidney deficiency (腎虛) requires different approaches. **Step 2: Set constitution-specific dietary principles.** Each constitution has different digestive enzyme activity and gut environment. Soeumin, with weak digestion and sensitivity to cold foods, benefits from warm stews, grilled dishes, and porridge, while avoiding cold salads or raw fish. Taeeumin, with low basal metabolic rate and tendency for phlegm-fluid (痰飮), reduces greasy foods and flour, increasing protein and dietary fiber. The key is not eating less, but choosing foods your body can digest and eliminate. **Step 3: Adjust lifestyle to your constitution.** Exercise intensity and sleep needs vary. Taeyangin, with high activity and sweat output, should focus on stretching rather than intense workouts. Soyangin, with active liver function, benefits from regular evening aerobic exercise for metabolic circulation. Soeumin needs adequate rest as sleep deprivation worsens spleen function. Modifying these patterns based on diagnosis helps the body respond better. **Step 4: Combine treatments like herbal medicine, herbal acupuncture (藥鍼), and moxibustion when needed.** The core of constitutional diet is correcting imbalances. For spleen deficiency with poor digestion and bloating, Bojungikgi-tang (補中益氣湯) series herbs are used. For blood stasis (瘀血) or phlegm-fluid (痰飮) hindering circulation, herbal acupuncture or decoctions that improve blood flow and eliminate phlegm are applied. This allows the body to naturally regulate energy consumption and storage. **Step 5: Regular consultations to adjust direction.** Constitution is not fixed—it changes with lifestyle, age, and seasons. Visiting every 2–4 weeks to check current status via pulse and abdominal diagnosis helps fine-tune diet and treatment. Gradual changes prevent yo-yo effects. Ultimately, constitutional diet is about learning your body's language.