Q. I'm craving fried chicken while on a diet. How does your clinic guide dietary choices in this situation?

When you crave fried chicken, it is more important to consider your overall physiological state than just the calorie count. Here is how we approach this from the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM): 1. Assess Digestive Capacity: We check for Spleen Deficiency (脾虛, Bi-heo). If your digestive function is weak, greasy foods like fried chicken are more likely to be stored as waste and fat in the body. 2. Managing Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮, Dam-eum): Fried foods can exacerbate the accumulation of Dam-eum (metabolic waste). In such cases, we suggest switching to roasted chicken or limiting the portion size to prevent further accumulation of these waste products. 3. Blood Stasis (瘀血, Eo-hyeol) and Circulation: High-fat diets can slow down blood flow, potentially leading to blood stasis. We recommend drinking warm tea or taking a light walk after eating to facilitate the circulation of Qi and Blood. 4. Modifying Eating Order: We recommend eating plenty of fresh vegetables before and after the chicken. Dietary fiber slows down fat absorption and prevents blood glucose spikes. 5. Addressing Psychological Hunger: Cravings are often 'false hunger.' Instead of sheer willpower, we use herbal medicine to gently modulate appetite and stabilize the mind for a more efficient diet. Ultimately, the key is restoring your body's internal balance. We invite you to visit our clinic for a personalized dietary guide tailored to your specific digestive health.