다이어트 기초·원인 이해
Q. I'm told to keep eating chicken breast and cabbage for my diet; why exactly is this effective?
A.
The key lies in the combination of low calories, high protein, and rich dietary fiber. When the body lacks energy, it burns fat; however, if protein is also insufficient, muscle mass decreases and metabolic rate drops. Chicken breast prevents muscle loss while cabbage provides satiety to curb false hunger. Note that depending on your constitution, this strict regimen may not be suitable for everyone.
📝 Detailed Answer
From a physiological standpoint, the protein in chicken breast stimulates satiety hormones, and the dietary fiber in cabbage slows down sugar absorption, preventing blood glucose spikes. Theoretically, it is an ideal combination for weight loss.
However, from the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), the outlook is different. If you have a 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛, Bi-heo)—a state of weakened digestive capacity—insisting on a high-protein diet can lead to the accumulation of undigested food in the stomach, which manifests as 'Phlegm-Fluid' (痰飮, Dam-eum). In this case, the forced protein intake acts as metabolic waste, hindering rather than helping your metabolism.
Furthermore, because cabbage has a 'cold' nature, excessive consumption can chill the lower abdomen, slowing the flow of 'Blood Stasis' (瘀血, Eo-hyeol). This can lead to water retention and poor circulation, causing you to hit a weight-loss plateau quickly.
Ultimately, the core issue is not just 'what you eat,' but whether your body can actually digest and convert those nutrients into energy. Since a diet that works for others may be counterproductive for you, it is essential to first check your digestive health and constitutional type.
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Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director