Q. I want to manage my diet with things like chicken breast cream soup; how do you approach this at a TKM clinic?

The most common mistake when starting a diet is blindly following 'trending foods' that others claim are beneficial. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we view food not just as a set of nutrients, but by how it is transformed and absorbed within your specific body. Our approach follows these steps: 1. Assessment of Digestive Absorption: We first check for 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency). If your digestive power is weak, consuming heavy, cream-based foods can lead to the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid retention), making your body feel heavy and sluggish. 2. Check for Inflammation and Circulation: We examine whether you have 'Eo-hyeol' (blood stasis), which manifests as frequent swelling or poor circulation. In such cases, excessive dairy or concentrated protein intake can further hinder circulation. 3. Customized Ingredient Adjustment: Depending on your constitution, we may suggest replacing cream with soy milk or incorporating specific medicinal herbs and vegetables that aid digestion. 4. Aligning Metabolic Rhythm: Beyond 'what' you eat, 'when' and 'how' you eat are crucial. We help create an environment where your body can efficiently utilize its own energy by adjusting fasting and eating windows. Ultimately, the key is whether your body accepts the food comfortably. Once you visit the clinic, we will carefully analyze your digestive state and constitution to find a sustainable dietary path together.