Q. I'm planning to keep eating stir-fried chicken breast as my diet meal. From a TKM doctor's perspective, is this a good idea? Do you recommend it?

To be honest, I've had my own experience in the past of being overly ambitious and sticking strictly to chicken breast, only to realize it wasn't the perfect approach. At first, the lack of hunger and feeling of lightness were appealing, but over time, I began to experience bloating and occasional dizziness. On the positive side, chicken breast is a high-protein, low-fat food that keeps you full for longer. This reduces cravings for snacks and helps preserve muscle mass, which is often lost during dieting. It is undoubtedly an efficient food source. However, there are important considerations from a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective. We refer to a weakened digestive state as 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency). When the Spleen function is weak, consuming excessive protein can overwhelm the stomach, leading to indigestion. This can result in the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid) or exacerbate 'Eo-hyeol' (blood stasis), potentially making your body feel heavier and more sluggish. Ultimately, 'whether your body can actually digest it' is more important than 'what you are eating.' Rather than consuming chicken breast alone, I recommend stir-frying it with vegetables that have warm properties to aid digestion. I suggest first assessing your current digestive state and identifying any blockages in your energy flow. If you visit the clinic, I can evaluate your constitution (Sasang typology) and digestive capacity to help you create a personalized dietary guide.