Q. I'm planning to eat Subway for my diet; from an Oriental Medicine doctor's perspective, do you have any recommendations for bread or menus?

I once insisted on a diet of only chicken breast and salads, and I remember nearly fainting from dizziness. Speaking from my own experience of trial and error, blindly reducing bread or eating only vegetables is not always the right answer. First, let's look at the benefits. Sandwiches like those at Subway are attractive because they provide plenty of fresh vegetables and make it easy to control carbohydrate intake. In particular, whole-grain breads raise blood sugar levels slowly, which is advantageous for weight management. However, there are points to be cautious about. Consuming too many raw vegetables can cool down the digestive system, potentially leading to a state of 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the function of the Spleen weakens, digestive power decreases and the body is prone to edema. Furthermore, the sugar content in commercial sauces is higher than expected, which can lead to the accumulation of metabolic waste known as 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dam-eum, 痰飮). Ultimately, the key is to tailor the meal to your own body condition. If you have a fast metabolism and a lot of internal heat, a light, vegetable-centered composition is ideal. However, for those with cold extremities and low energy, I recommend incorporating sufficient proteins with warming properties. Your diet will be much more effective if you first clear 'Blood Stasis' (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血) and toxins from your body. If you are curious about your current physiological state, please feel free to visit the clinic so we can discuss a personalized plan together.