Q. I'm planning a diet centered around chicken breast and cabbage. What is the Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective on this kind of meal plan?

Many patients bring in these 'standard' health diets, but they aren't always the right answer. I've even had my own experience in the past where I relied solely on chicken breast and salads, only to suddenly feel exhausted and dizzy because I ignored my body's signals. From a TKM perspective, this diet can be particularly burdensome for those with 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛, Bi-heo), a state where the Spleen's function is weakened. The Spleen is the core organ responsible for transforming food into energy. When hard-to-digest proteins and 'cold-natured' raw vegetables are consumed continuously, Spleen function can decline further. This may lead to the accumulation of 'Phlegm-Fluid' (痰飮, Dam-eum)—a state of stagnated metabolic waste—which can make your body feel heavy and sluggish. Therefore, I recommend the following approach: 1. Digestive Check: First, determine if your stomach can handle cold foods and dense proteins. 2. Alter Cooking Methods: Instead of eating cabbage raw, lightly blanch or steam it. Changing its properties to 'warm' reduces the burden on the digestive system. 3. Diversify Proteins: If chicken breast is too dry and difficult to digest, try softer proteins such as white fish or tofu. 4. Add Warming Ingredients: Incorporate ingredients like ginger or garlic to warm the body and promote the circulation of Qi and Blood. 5. Manage Blood Stasis (瘀血, Eo-hyeol): If your metabolic rate is low and cannot be solved by diet alone, herbal medicine may be necessary to improve blood circulation and enhance the efficiency of your diet. True dieting is not about simply eating less, but about eating in a way that your body can actually absorb and utilize.