Q. I'm currently eating only chicken breast for my diet. What is the recommended way to plan a diet from a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective?

Many people cling to the 'standard' diet of chicken breast and sweet potatoes, but digestive capacity varies by individual. Some experience bloating or constipation when eating only chicken breast; in TKM, this is viewed as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛), where the impaired function of the Spleen reduces digestive and absorptive power. Forcing protein intake in this state can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the body. I recommend a step-by-step approach: 1. Diagnose your digestive capacity: Determine how well your body accepts protein. If digestion is poor, the efficiency of nutrient absorption drops significantly. 2. Find proteins suited to your constitution: For those who do not react well to chicken, lean proteins like white fish or tofu may be more compatible. 3. Use cooking methods that prevent Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-eum, 痰飮): Steam or boil foods rather than frying or sautéing to prevent the accumulation of metabolic waste known as Dam-eum. 4. Add warmth: Accompany your meals with warm vegetables instead of cold salads. Maintaining body warmth activates metabolism and enhances the burning of body fat. 5. Manage Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血): Along with your diet, address blood stasis that hinders circulation. Resolving these blockages makes weight loss much smoother. The core principle is not just 'what you eat,' but 'how your body processes it.' Rather than struggling with a trial-and-error diet, the fastest path to success is to examine your current physiological state.