What is a low-carb, high-fat diet, and is it the right method for me?

What exactly is a Low-Carb High-Fat (LCHF) diet?

A Low-Carb High-Fat diet is a way of eating that changes the energy source our body uses by reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing fat intake.

Normally, we use 'glucose,' created from the breakdown of carbohydrates such as rice, bread, and noodles, as our primary energy source. However, when the supply of carbohydrates is limited, the body begins to burn stored fat to create a substance called 'ketone bodies' to use as energy. This state is called 'ketosis.'

The key is 'quality' over 'quantity'

Many people misunderstand this as simply eating a lot of meat, such as pork belly. However, the essence of LCHF is not unconditional high-fat intake, but rather switching the metabolic system by choosing 'good fats' that are unprocessedis located at.

If you focus only on increasing the amount of fat, you may experience discomfort such as indigestion or changes in blood lipid levels. Therefore, the process of verifying whether your body is in a state where it can effectively use fat as energy must come first.

Before your consultation, please check the following items regarding your usual eating habits.

• How often do you consume rice, bread, noodles, or sugary drinks per day?
• Do you experience bloating or nausea when you increase your fat intake?
• Do you experience severe 'sugar crashes' (a sudden drop in energy) when fasting?

If you record these reactions in advance, you can more clearly determine if the LCHF method is a suitable option for your constitution and lifestyle patterns.

How does our body react?

Our body normally operates in 'glucose-burning mode,' obtaining energy by burning carbohydrates. At this time, insulina hormone is secreted to deliver sugar to the cells, but if you reduce carbohydrate intake, the amount of insulin secretion naturally decreases.

When insulin levels drop, the body finally begins to use stored body fat. Once the stored glycogenis completely consumed, fat is broken down and a new energy source called 'ketones' is generated. In other words, a process of switching the fuel tank from 'sugar' to 'fat' occurs.

Key Summary

When insulin levels drop, the body burns stored fat instead of glucose to create and use an alternative energy source called 'ketones'.

However, temporary confusion may occur during the initial adaptation period when the fuel system changes. Until the brain and muscles adapt to an unfamiliar fuel called ketones, you may experience the following states.

• Fatigue and lethargy, feeling heavier than usual
• Decreased concentration, feeling as if the mind is foggy
• Mild headaches or a sense of helplessness

This is not a sign that your body is broken, but a natural reaction experienced during the process of switching energy sources. However, it is necessary to closely observe to what extent these states affect your daily life patterns or work intensity.

Before your consultation, please record how your body reacts, focusing on the items below.

• After changing diet sleep quality Changes
• The point at which concentration drops sharply during the afternoon
• Body parts that feel fatigue more easily than usual

Is it okay to start without a plan?

Low-carb high-fat is not simply about changing food, but a process of replacing your body's entire energy system. If you start without preparation, you may experience side effects such as extreme fatigue or indigestion.

Before blindly restricting your diet, you must first examine whether your body is ready to use fat as energy. In particular, the approach should vary depending on your usual eating habits and physical reactions.

Pre-Consultation Checklist

• Carbohydrate dependency: Please record the frequency and amount of bread, noodles, snacks, and liquid fructose (sugary drinks) consumed during the day.
• Fat digestion capacity: Check if bloating, diarrhea, or nausea frequently occur after eating greasy foods.
• Life patterns: Daily average Sleep durationCheck if your activity level is consistent and if you have the psychological capacity to maintain the diet.

For those who previously had very high intakes of flour or sugars, suddenly cutting off carbohydrates may lead to a shortage of energy supplied to the brain, resulting in headaches or lethargy.

Additionally, depending on the condition of digestive organs such as the gallbladder or pancreas, a high-fat diet may actually be burdensome. If you force an increase in intake while your fat digestion capacity is low there is a high possibility that nutrient absorption efficiency will decrease and gastrointestinal disorders will worsen.

It is important to accurately understand your current state. After carefully checking the above items, we recommend deciding on a direction to adjust your diet within a range that does not put undue strain on your body.

Keto rash and keto flu: can you tell them apart?

A few days after starting your diet, it is easy to feel flustered if your body suddenly feels heavy or if you experience abnormal skin reactions. This is likely a temporary adaptation signal as your body switches its energy source from glucose to ketones.

The First Signal from Your Body: Keto Flu

It is named as such because it is similar to a cold or flu. When carbohydrate intake drops sharply, water leaves the body and electrolytes are excreted along with it, which can lead to the following symptoms:

• A heavy, dull headache
• Lethargy and fatigue severe enough to interfere with daily life
• Decreased concentration and increased irritability

Simply enduring these symptoms is not the answer. Supplementing electrolytes such as salt or magnesium along with sufficient hydrationis necessary to maintain the body's homeostasis and shorten the adaptation period.

The Second Signal from Your Body: Keto Rash

In rare cases, 'Keto Rash' may appear, characterized by red spots and itching around the chest, back, or neck. This is a reaction that occurs as blood ketone levels rise sharply and are excreted through the skin.

If the itching is severe enough to disrupt your sleep or if the rash spreads rapidly, you should adjust the ketone levels by gradually increasing carbohydrate intake rather than forcing the diet.

Recording your body's reactions

To distinguish whether this is a simple adaptation process or a method that does not suit your body, documentation is necessary. Please check the following items before your consultation:

1. When the symptoms appeared and how long they lasted
2. Whether symptoms improved after supplementing water and salt
3. The exact location of the skin rash and the degree of itching

Carefully observing and recording these signals will be a great help in finding the appropriate carbohydrate allowance that works for you.

What is the difference between Gambijeong and Gambihwan?

When receiving diet consultations at a Korean medicine clinic, you will often encounter the terms 'Gambijeong' and 'Gambihwan'. Because the names are similar, many people assume they are the same thing or misunderstand them as medications with completely different ingredients.

To get straight to the point, both formulations are prepared based on standardized prescriptionsin the same way. Only the method of making the medicine, the 'physical form', is different. One form is not superior to the other; the key is to choose based on your lifestyle pattern and convenience of administration.

Comparison of Characteristics by Formulation

Category	Gambi-jeong (Tablet)	Gambi-hwan (Pill)
Form	Compressed tablet form	Small, bead-like pill form
Characteristics	Small size and low scent	Traditional Korean herbal medicine formulation
Convenience	Easy to carry and take	Has the characteristic texture of Korean herbal medicine

Gambijeong is a tablet form created by extracting and compressing medicinal herbs using modern methods. Since they are small like general pills, they can be swallowed quickly with water, making them a preferred choice for those sensitive to the unique scent or taste of Korean herbal medicine.

On the other hand, Gambihwan is a traditional pill (hwan) form made by powdering medicinal herbs and shaping them into small rounds with honey or a binding agent. The texture and aroma felt in the mouth differ from tablets, making them suitable for those who prefer classical Korean herbal medicine formulations.

Before your consultation, please check your medication habits in advance.

• Do you have no aversion to swallowing pills?
• Are you sensitive to smells or scents during outdoor activities?
• Do you prefer the texture of traditional pill (hwan) formulations?

Regardless of which formulation you choose, the important thing is to receive a prescription that suits your constitution and current physical condition. The difference in form only determines the convenience of intake; it does not change the essence of the prescription.

What are the benefits of combining a diet with Korean herbal medicine?

When starting a low-carb, high-fat diet, you will encounter 'psychological and physical hurdles' that are difficult to overcome with willpower alone. This is because when a body that has relied on carbohydrates for a lifetime suddenly tries to change its energy source, the brain sends strong craving signals to fill the lack of sugar.

In particular, the sugar cravings and uncontrollable appetiteexperienced in the early stages are the biggest causes of deviating from the diet. At this time, Korean herbal medicine does not forcibly suppress the appetite, but plays a supportive role in reducing the psychological pressure felt during the diet maintenance process by adjusting the intensity of hunger the body feels.

Key Summary

Korean herbal medicine helps you get through the diet adaptation period more easily by alleviating the physical discomfort that occurs during the energy source transition period.

Additionally, it compensates for the decline in physical condition during the 'keto flu' period, the lethargy that appears during the process of changing the body to use ketones instead of glucose. If energy levels drop too low, it interferes with daily life, which is highly likely to lead to binge eating due to a compensatory psychological response.

The supportive mechanism of Korean herbal medicine works in the following areas:

• Hunger Management: Prevents diet deviation by blood sugar regulating hunger caused by sudden changes
• Energy Supplementation: Maintains daily physical condition by reducing the lethargy and fatigue unique to the transition period
• Psychological Stability: Reduces diet-related stress by alleviating obsessive cravings for sugar

Ultimately, the role of Korean herbal medicine is not forced weight loss, but to act as a buffer that reduces physical overloadis to become.

Please check these points before your consultation

Before applying for a remote consultation, please organize the following information. The more specifically you record your condition, the more efficiently your consultation time will be used, and you can receive guidance better suited to your individual constitution and lifestyle patterns.

Pre-consultation Checklist

• List of currently taken medications and supplements: Please list all prescription medications for underlying conditions, as well as any vitamins or supplements you take regularly.
• Past diet experiences and reasons for discontinuation: Analyze what type of diet you attempted, what was most difficult at the time, or what the decisive reason for giving up was.
• Time of day when appetite is strongest: Beyond simply feeling 'hungry,' please identify the specific times and situations when you experience uncontrollable 'false hunger.'

Rather than a simple goal of 'wanting to lose weight,' 'in what situations your diet control breaks down'records of this are more important.

Low-carb, high-fat diets produce different responses depending on an individual's metabolic state. Especially if you are taking medication or are sensitive to specific nutrients, these factors must be carefully considered when prescribing Korean herbal medicine.

Try starting your consultation after briefly noting the three items above in a notepad or on paper. When you are accurately aware of your own patterns, you can set a sustainable dietary direction rather than one based on excessive restriction.

What is the process from remote consultation to taking the medicine?

Those who have difficulty finding time to visit the clinic or live far away can apply for remote medical evaluation. However, applying does not automatically determine the prescription; after the director confirms your current physical condition and the medications you are taking, you will be guided to the next necessary step among Gambi-jeong, customized herbal decoctions, or an in-person visit.

Baekrok Gambi-jeong Receipt Process

1. Remote consultation application and customized medical questionnaire Apply for a consultation via KakaoTalk or online channels. In the questionnaire sent afterward, current weight changes, usual sleep patterns, and digestive status and other physical information are recorded in detail. This data serves as the basic material for the Korean medicine doctor to analyze the individual's constitution.

2. Prescription determination and tablet preparation Based on the questionnaire, the Korean medicine doctor conducts a 1:1 evaluation to determine if Gambi-jeong is appropriate and to decide the starting dosage. Baekrok Gambi-jeong is in the form of tablets (pills)and unlike supplements, it is a Korean herbal medicine that requires evaluation and prescription by a Korean medicine doctor.

3. Dosage Guide and Progress Tracking If the prescription is appropriate, dosage timing and precautionswill be provided. You may start with a lower dose than the standard amount; you must consult with the director if you wish to increase the dose beyond the standard amount.

While 'convenience' is the core of the non-face-to-face process, it is based on 'precise medical interviewing.' The more detailed the information you record, the more suitable the prescription for you can be.

The prescription details may be adjusted at any time depending on your body's reaction to the medication or your adaptation to the diet. If you have any questions during intake, you can communicate quickly through the channels provided in the guide to find your optimal state.

Final Check for Sustainable Management

The LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) diet is merely a 'tool' to regain health; it should not become the goal itself. What is important is not strictly adhering to a specific eating method, but rather the perspective of closely observing how your body reacts during the process.

Some people gain vitality when they drastically reduce carbohydrates, while others experience severe lethargy or digestive disorders. The answer is not in external guidelines, but in your own body's reaction. Rather than forcing speed, a process of finding an appropriate pace that your body can adapt to is necessary.

Please check the following criteria for sustainable management.

Rather than becoming preoccupied with short-term weight changes, you should focus on creating 'habits that can be maintained for a lifetime' through a balance of diet and supportive aid.

Key Summary

Diet is a means to find the optimal state for your body, and gradual adaptation takes priority over excessive restriction. Please confirm your constitutional limits and set a safe direction through consultation with a specialist.

• Recording Changes in Body Condition: Note changes in sleep quality, concentration, and bowel movements after changing your diet.
• Checking Psychological Tolerance: Distinguish whether obsessive restriction is becoming a source of stress or if it is providing vitality.
• Applying Specialist Guidance: Coordinate the prescription and diet to ensure that nutritional imbalances unsuitable for your constitution do not occur.

Before the consultation, Baekrok Gambi-jeong price and non-face-to-face proceduresplease check these together; whether you can actually take the medicine must be determined during the consultation based on your individual condition.