Q. I'm planning a diet focused on chicken breast and cabbage. How does a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) clinic approach this?

Many people start a strict diet with great enthusiasm, only to suffer from bloating and indigestion. The most important factor is not just eating 'healthy foods,' but whether your body is in a state to properly absorb them. From a TKM perspective, some individuals suffer from Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛). For these patients, abruptly increasing protein intake or consuming cold cabbage can lead to indigestion and a sudden drop in energy. In such cases, we prioritize enhancing digestive power using warm-natured medicinal herbs and specific cooking methods. Others may have an accumulation of Phlegm-Fluid (Dameum, 痰飮). When fluid metabolism is sluggish, dietary changes alone often reach a plateau. Phlegm-Fluid refers to a state where metabolic waste becomes stagnant and viscous; this must be cleared first to maximize the efficiency of your diet. At Baekrokdam Clinic, we take the following approach: 1. Digestive Assessment: We check if your Spleen function is ready to process high levels of protein and dietary fiber. 2. Clearing Internal Stagnation: We clear Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血) and Phlegm-Fluid to secure efficient metabolic pathways. 3. Customized Dietary Guidance: We suggest the best cooking methods and timing for consuming chicken breast and cabbage to ensure optimal absorption. 4. Energy Supplementation: We use herbal medicine to support your basal metabolic rate and vitality, which can otherwise decline during dietary restriction. The key is not just 'what you eat,' but 'how your body assimilates it.' We recommend first assessing your body's current functional status.