With so many convenience store diet foods available, what would you recommend from a Korean Medicine perspective?

Convenience stores offer the benefit of easy calorie tracking and accessibility, but many processed options are high in sodium and 'cold' in nature. In Traditional Korean Medicine, we associate this with ‘Biheo’ (Spleen Deficiency). When the Spleen's transportative and transformative functions are compromised, food fails to turn into energy and instead becomes ‘Dameum’ (pathological phlegm-fluid waste). Consuming cold salads directly from the refrigerator can chill the digestive tract, leading to 'Sudok' (water toxicity), where metabolic stagnation causes unnecessary fluid retention and swelling. To counter this, I recommend heating your food whenever possible or drinking warm barley tea. Tailor your choices to your physical state: opt for chicken breast or protein shakes after workouts, but prioritize whole foods like sweet potatoes or eggs if you feel heavy or bloated. Let’s work together to develop healthy habits that respect your digestive constitution.