Q. I eat a lot of sandwiches from places like Subway when dieting. How should I manage my diet from a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective?

Many people struggle with 'standard' diet plans, such as eating only chicken breast and sweet potatoes, only to experience dizziness and fatigue because their bodies cannot adapt. From a TKM perspective, reading your body's internal state is more important than unconditional restriction. At Baekrokdam, we guide your dietary direction through the following stages: 1. Assessing Digestive and Absorptive Capacity: If you suffer from Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛), even the healthiest diet foods can lead to edema (swelling) rather than nutrition. The first step is restoring your digestive power. 2. Removing Internal Waste: We focus on clearing 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, abnormal fluid accumulation) and 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis). This process must precede dieting to ensure a smooth metabolism and effective weight loss. 3. Customized Ingredient Selection: Even when choosing a menu at Subway, the best options vary by constitution. For some, raw vegetables may cool the abdomen too much and hinder digestion; for others, excessive protein may place a burden on the Liver. 4. Gradual Habit Correction: Sudden dietary changes are perceived by the body as a crisis, which often leads to the yo-yo effect. We use herbal medicine to suppress 'false hunger,' allowing you to naturally reduce your portions. Ultimately, the key is not just 'what you eat,' but 'how your body processes it.' Checking the state of your body's 'engine' first and then providing the appropriate 'fuel' is the most efficient way to lose weight.