Q. Is a high-protein diet focusing only on chicken breast okay from a Traditional Korean Medicine perspective?

Before starting a strict protein diet, you must assess if your body is ready to metabolize it. Many patients eat nothing but chicken breast yet fail to lose weight, suffering instead from facial swelling or dizziness. TKM approaches healthy weight loss through a four-step process: 1. Recovering from Spleen Deficiency (Biheo): If your digestive fire is weak, even high-quality protein becomes waste or fat rather than muscle. Strengthening the Spleen's transport and transformation function to improve absorption efficiency is the first priority. 2. Expelling Phlegm-fluid (Dameum): This refers to sticky metabolic waste accumulated in the body. Much like a clogged drain, you cannot fix the system by just pouring in fresh water; you must clear these stagnant fluids first to feel lighter. 3. Facilitating Qi and Blood (Gi-hyeol) Circulation: Body fat burns efficiently only when energy flows well. If your Qi (vital energy) is depleted, the body perceives a state of emergency and holds onto fat more tightly. Metabolism must be boosted according to your specific constitution. 4. Establishing a Balanced Diet: Rather than following popular fads, find the ratio of protein and carbohydrates that suits your specific gut health and maintain it as a lifestyle. Consulting a practitioner to clear your circulatory pathways and diagnose your current state will make your dietary efforts much more effective and sustainable.