Q. I'm trying to plan a diet to lower my body fat percentage. What kind of diet do Korean medicine clinics usually recommend?

Many people try restrictive diets, such as eating only chicken breast and sweet potatoes, but this often leads to a sudden drop in energy and dizziness because it ignores the body's individual needs. The strength of a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) diet is that it is customized to the individual. For example, if a patient is in a state of 'Bi-Heo' (Spleen Deficiency/lowered spleen function), characterized by poor digestion and lack of energy, we recommend foods with warming properties. Conversely, for those with 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid retention) or 'Eo-hyeol' (blood stasis) blocking circulation, we suggest a lighter diet paired with herbal teas that promote detoxification and circulation. Of course, there are trade-offs. You may not experience the immediate, dramatic appetite suppression found with some pharmaceutical weight-loss drugs, and preparing specific ingredients according to a tailored plan can be tedious. The answer lies in your current physiological state. A diet that acts as a tonic for one person may be detrimental to another. I recommend first identifying your constitution and metabolic capacity to establish the right guidelines. We are here to help you figure that out together.