I'm always told to eat chicken breast when dieting, but how exactly does it help with weight loss?
Rather than simply being 'good protein,' it acts as a switch for your metabolism. Sufficient protein intake preserves muscle mass and maintains your basal metabolic rate, ensuring energy is used efficiently. However, in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we also emphasize digestive capacity; the true weight loss effect occurs only when your digestive system can properly absorb the nutrients.
From a modern medical perspective, protein provides the essential building blocks for muscle, preventing a drop in the basal metabolic rate. Since weight loss often involves losing muscle alongside fat, maintaining protein intake is crucial to preventing the 'yo-yo effect' (weight regain).
However, the critical factor from a TKM perspective is 'digestion.' If a person suffers from Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛), forcing a high-protein diet can be counterproductive. When chicken breast is consumed beyond the body's digestive capacity, it can lead to the accumulation of Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-eum, 痰飮)—metabolic waste products that cause bloating and a feeling of heaviness in the body.
Furthermore, if Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血) is present, nutrients cannot reach the muscles efficiently, causing them to stagnate. Therefore, I do not recommend a high-protein diet blindly. I first assess your current digestive health and Qi energy. By optimizing the body's internal environment to be receptive to nutrients first, you can achieve healthy, sustainable weight loss.
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