Q. What exactly are those 'diet snacks' sold in stores, and why are they considered okay to eat?

I once went through a phase of buying every 'zero-calorie' snack available, fueled by sheer ambition. It was a mistake. Even if the calories appear low, our bodies are far more complex. The sweet taste of artificial sweeteners can trigger a subtle insulin response just by touching the tongue, which often leads to cravings for stronger sweetness and a state of mental fog. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this is viewed through the lens of 'Dameum' (痰飮)—metabolic waste products that accumulate when fluid metabolism is impaired. The artificial additives in processed diet snacks can disrupt the circulation of Qi and Blood, further accumulating Dameum and making the body feel increasingly heavy. Patients with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), or Spleen Deficiency, who have weakened digestive and absorptive capacities, often experience bloating or gas when consuming these substitutes. Although the nutrition label says 'low calorie,' these are foreign substances that are difficult for your internal organs to process. I believe that 'how my body accepts' food is more important than 'what I eat less of.' Instead of merely silencing cravings with snacks, I recommend focusing on restoring your metabolic capacity. It would be beneficial to examine whether your current state is characterized by an accumulation of Dameum or a deficiency in Spleen function.