Q. Doctor, I'm craving chicken so much while dieting. Which menu option would be the best choice?

I love chicken too! I've experienced the struggle of sticking strictly to chicken breast during a diet, only to find myself standing in front of a chicken shop. I learned through trial and error that suppressing cravings too harshly often leads to binge eating. Roasted chicken has clear advantages. It allows you to fulfill your protein needs while stripping away unnecessary saturated fats. Since the oil drains away during cooking, it lowers the caloric burden and is gentler on the digestive system. However, there are things to be cautious of. Even with oven-roasted chicken, heavy sauces can essentially be clumps of sugar. Furthermore, chicken that is overly marinated in salt can cause the body to retain water, leading to edema. From the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine, greasy chicken can actually be detrimental to those with a 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛, Bi-Heo)—a state where the digestive function is weakened. People with this constitution may struggle to digest even roasted chicken, which can easily lead to the accumulation of 'Phlegm-Fluid' (痰飮, Dam-Eum), a state where metabolic waste stagnates in the body. Therefore, it is difficult to name one single 'correct' menu item, as the recommendation changes entirely based on your constitution and digestive state. If you want to explore your current physical condition and understand why you are craving specific foods, please feel free to visit the clinic. Let's find the best approach for your body together.