Q. I've been eating only chicken breast for my diet; how does a Korean medicine clinic recommend planning a meal plan?

Many people start diets with high enthusiasm, sticking strictly to chicken breast and sweet potatoes, only to experience bloating and extreme fatigue. This happens when the diet exceeds what the body's digestive system can actually handle. TKM cautions against extreme fasting or mono-diets. Specifically, if a person has a 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛), insisting on a high-protein diet can lead to the accumulation of undigested food, creating 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dam-eum, 痰飮). This metabolic waste obstructs the circulation of Qi and Blood, making the body feel heavy and often causing edema (swelling). At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we propose the following healthy dietary approach: 1. Digestive Assessment: We first evaluate how well your stomach absorbs protein; a diet that cannot be digested becomes a toxin to the body. 2. Incorporating Warming Foods: Instead of cold chicken breast, we recommend pairing it with warm-natured vegetables or cooked foods to increase the temperature of the gastrointestinal tract. 3. Circulation-Boosting Diet: We incorporate ingredients that resolve 'Blood Stasis' (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血) to ensure metabolic waste is efficiently discharged from the body. 4. Gradual Transition: Rather than sudden restriction, we allow the body time to adapt while adjusting the ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. 5. Constitution-Based Support: We utilize herbal prescriptions tailored to your constitution to manage hunger and lethargy associated with dietary changes. Ultimately, the core of weight loss is not 'how little you eat,' but 'how efficiently your body burns energy.' The most sustainable way to avoid the yo-yo effect is to assess your internal physiological state first and find a diet that harmonizes with it.