Q. I eat a lot of sandwiches like Subway for my diet; what is the Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective on this?

I have personally struggled with stomach issues in the past from eating only salads and sandwiches while dieting. Through that experience, I realized that 'low-calorie' does not always equate to 'healthy' for everyone. From a TKM perspective, here is how to utilize a sandwich diet healthily: 1. Assess your digestive state: First, check if you have 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛), a state where weakened spleen function leads to poor digestion. If people with this condition consume too many raw vegetables, their abdomen may become cold, leading to a loss of energy. 2. Combine with warm-natured ingredients: If you experience indigestion, adjust the amount of vegetables or include sufficient warm-natured proteins. Appropriate internal warmth is necessary to effectively discharge 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dameum, 痰飮), which refers to metabolic waste products in the body. 3. Choose sauces that support circulation: Instead of highly stimulating or sugary sauces, I recommend simple dressings like olive oil or black pepper. Preventing 'Blood Stasis' (Eohyeol, 瘀血)—a condition where blood becomes viscous—is crucial for increasing dieting efficiency. 4. Drink a cup of warm tea after meals: Help raise the abdominal temperature that may have dropped due to the cold vegetables. This activates metabolism and creates an optimal environment for breaking down body fat. Ultimately, what is as important as the menu itself is whether 'your body is ready to convert this food into energy.' While some people lose weight easily on salads, others may experience increased bloating. If you are curious about specific combinations tailored to your constitution and digestive health, please visit the clinic for a consultation.