Q. Tofu diet recipes are trending these days. What do you think about them as a Traditional Korean Medicine doctor? I'm curious if you recommend them.

I've tried trendy diets myself, and I remember feeling overly ambitious at first but eventually experiencing an uneasy stomach. Speaking from that experience, tofu is indeed a great ingredient. First, its benefits: it's rich in high-quality plant protein, which helps reduce muscle loss, and it provides strong satiety, making appetite control easier. Most importantly, for those with sensitive stomachs after Western medicine-based diets, it offers a gentle alternative. However, there are cautions. In Traditional Korean Medicine, if you have a spleen deficiency (biheo)—that is, weakened spleen function leading to poor digestion—consuming excessive amounts of cold-property tofu can actually be harmful. Such individuals may experience coldness in the abdomen, diarrhea, or accumulation of phlegm-fluid (dameum) causing a heavy sensation in the body. Ultimately, it's less about 'what is good' and more about 'what my body's current state is.' If you typically have slow digestion or a cold constitution, I recommend lightly warming the tofu before eating. The right diet varies according to your constitution and current vitality. Pay attention to your body's signals, and if you need an accurate constitution diagnosis, feel free to visit my clinic anytime. Let's figure it out together.