Q. I eat out often due to my social and professional life; what kind of menu choices does a Korean medicine clinic recommend?

For working professionals, avoiding dining out is practically impossible. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), rather than simply cutting calories, we prioritize filling your body with foods that match your current physiological state. First, check your digestive capacity. If you are in a state of 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo), where the Spleen's function is weak and digestion is poor, cold foods or raw vegetable salads can actually be counterproductive, leading to bloating and lethargy. In such cases, warm, cooked menus like Shabu-shabu or steamed dishes are much better options. If your body feels heavy and you suffer from severe swelling, you likely have an accumulation of 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dam-eum). In this case, avoid heavily seasoned, stimulating foods or flour-based products. Instead, focus on lean proteins such as white fish or boiled pork (suyuk) to help your body eliminate metabolic waste more effectively. Furthermore, when stress causes energy to stagnate, it can lead to 'Blood Stasis' (Eo-hyeol), which ultimately lowers your metabolic rate. Along with the menu choice, the speed of your meal is crucial. Chewing slowly and thoroughly reduces the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and allows you to feel satiety properly. Ultimately, the core is 'selection tailored to your body.' Once you accurately understand your digestive state and where the energy flow is blocked, choosing a menu becomes much easier. Rather than stressing over it alone, why not visit our clinic for a professional constitution diagnosis?