Q. I've been told to focus on protein while dieting. What approach do you recommend as a TKM doctor?

I have actually had a personal experience where I insisted on eating only chicken breast for diet management, only to suffer from severe bloating and discomfort. It was a lesson in how focusing solely on efficiency without considering my body's state can lead to poor results. The benefits of a protein-centric diet are clear: it provides long-lasting satiety and prevents the loss of precious muscle mass during weight loss, which helps maintain your basal metabolic rate. However, there are important cautions from a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective. If a person has 'Bi-heo' (脾虛)—a deficiency in Spleen function—insisting on a high-protein diet can lead to the accumulation of undigested food, which easily creates 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid). When this type of metabolic waste builds up, you may feel heaviness in the body or experience edema (swelling). Furthermore, excessive protein intake can place a burden on the liver and kidneys or contribute to 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis), which makes the blood turbid. If someone with weak digestive power forces themselves to eat heavy meats, they may actually feel their overall energy (Qi) plummet. Ultimately, the key is your body's 'digestive capacity.' The recommended types of protein and the timing of consumption vary entirely depending on how well you digest food and the state of your bowel movements. First, check if your body is truly ready to process high amounts of protein. If you wish, I recommend visiting the clinic so we can assess your current digestive function and tailor a plan for you.