Q. I'm on a diet, but I'm craving chicken so much. Which type would you recommend, Doctor?

To be honest, even as a practitioner, it's hard to resist the smell of fried chicken; we can't live on plain chicken breasts every single day. I recommend oven-baked chicken because it significantly lowers calorie intake by removing the breading and reducing refined sugar. This allows you to satisfy your cravings while focusing on protein intake. However, you should be mindful of sodium. In Traditional Korean Medicine, excessive salt intake can lead to the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, Phlegm-Fluid Retention). Dam-eum refers to a state where metabolic waste and fluids are not properly discharged from the body, leading to a feeling of heaviness and edema (swelling). Additionally, overly spicy seasonings can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and impair digestive function. Ultimately, 'how' you eat is more important than 'what' you eat. If you absolutely must have fried chicken, reduce your usual portion by half and eat a cabbage salad first. This prevents a rapid spike in blood glucose and helps you feel full faster. If you frequently experience bloating after small meals or feel easily fatigued, you may have a 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen Deficiency) condition, where the Spleen's function is weakened, leading to poor digestion and absorption. In such cases, rather than simply suppressing your appetite, checking your body's metabolic state is the most efficient way to start a successful diet.