What criteria does a Korean-medicine clinic use when guiding a protein-focused diet?
Instead of simply increasing protein, care checks digestion and piheo patterns and sets the type and amount suited to constitution, gradually managing absorption and digestive burden.
Protein supports muscle maintenance during weight loss, but increasing the amount does not mean all of it will be absorbed. First review post-meal heaviness, appetite, bowel movements, and energy to see whether the current diet is tolerable.
In Korean medicine, pushing a high-protein diet when piheo indicates weaker digestive function may be understood alongside food stagnation and heaviness or dam-eum. The type and amount of animal or plant protein can be considered by constitution and digestion.
Care may consider herbal medicine or acupuncture to support digestive function and Qi-Blood, and review discomfort associated with eohyeol or dam-eum when relevant. The goal is not maximal protein, but a pattern the body can use without undue burden.
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