Q. Why is delivery food so bad while dieting? Isn't it okay to have it once in a while?

I'll be honest—I used to be a VIP on delivery apps myself, often falling for the temptation of late-night snacks and telling myself, 'I'll start again tomorrow.' However, through clinical practice, I've seen exactly why delivery food is particularly detrimental to weight loss. From a Western medical perspective, delivery foods have a very high density of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. This causes 'blood sugar spikes,' prompting the body to release a flood of insulin to lower glucose levels. The remaining energy is then stored directly as fat, starting a vicious cycle. In TKM, we analyze this through the lens of 'Dam-eum' (痰飮), which refers to viscous waste products formed when the body's fluid metabolism is impaired. Greasy and highly seasoned diets are especially dangerous for those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), or a deficiency in Spleen Qi. When the Spleen is weak, the body cannot efficiently convert food into energy, causing it to accumulate as Dam-eum instead. Ultimately, this creates a path of [High-Calorie Diet → Accelerated Spleen Deficiency → Accumulation of Dam-eum → Lowered Metabolism]. Once this happens, you are more likely to hit a frustrating plateau where weight doesn't drop even if you eat less. While occasional treats are fine, I recommend first assessing your current metabolic capacity. Once you establish a dietary guide tailored to your specific bodily constitution, your weight loss journey will become much smoother.