I have personally tried many trending diets in the past. Even when eating things known to be 'healthy,' I often found myself feeling bloated and exhausted. Through trial and error, I learned that the specific diet method is less important than whether your body has the capacity to process it. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we closely examine 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), or Spleen Deficiency. When Spleen function is impaired, even healthy fats like perilla oil cannot be converted into energy and instead accumulate as 'Dam-eum' (痰飮)—phlegm-fluid retention or metabolic waste. Conversely, blindly following a restrictive low-calorie diet can deplete your Qi and Blood, leading to 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血), or blood stasis, which further slows down your metabolism. Here is a comparison of the two approaches: | Category | Perilla Oil (Quality Fats) | General Low-Calorie Diet | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Core Principle | Hormone regulation & inflammation relief | Caloric restriction | | Advantages | Satiety maintenance, reduced skin dryness | Rapid initial weight loss | | Limitations | May cause bloating if digestion is weak | Muscle loss & risk of yo-yo effect | | Recommended For | Those with pre-diabetes or inflammatory conditions | Those with clear, short-term goals | | TKM Perspective | Caution required for Dam-eum (phlegm) constitutions | Potential to induce Qi deficiency & Spleen deficiency | Rather than searching for a 'correct' method, the key is understanding how fatigued your internal organs are. Instead of following trends blindly, let's accurately assess your current physical state together to find the most efficient path for your body.