Q. I’ve heard a glass of wine is fine when dieting, but how exactly does it interfere with weight loss?

I understand the temptation of a glass of wine after work; many people justify it by thinking of its antioxidants, only to be surprised by the scale the next morning. From a Western medical perspective, alcohol becomes the body's 'priority fuel.' The liver halts other functions to focus entirely on breaking down the toxic alcohol, meaning fat burning is delayed and body fat remains unburned. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), alcohol is categorized as 'Damp-Heat' (濕熱). When this hot and humid energy enters the body, it easily generates 'Phlegm-Rheum' (痰飮), a form of sticky metabolic waste. If this obstructs the flow of Qi and Blood, it often leads to 'Blood Stasis' (瘀血). Particularly for those with 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛)—a weak digestive system—the ability to metabolize fluids drops significantly, causing bloating and a sluggish metabolism. The issue lies with the alcohol and sugar causing stagnation in the body. Since avoiding these 'stagnation zones' is crucial during weight loss, I recommend setting the glass aside for now.