Q. I see many 'diet snacks' at drugstores like Olive Young that claim to be low in calories. Why do I find myself constantly snacking on them, and why am I not losing any weight?

Even as a practitioner, I sometimes reach for high-protein snacks when I'm busy, only to find myself feeling strangely empty afterward. I understand how frustrating this cycle is for patients. These snacks typically use sugar substitutes like erythritol to lower calories. While they may not spike blood sugar immediately, your brain realizes the mismatch between the sweet taste and the lack of energy, which eventually triggers a craving for even stronger flavors and leads to overeating. In Traditional Korean Medicine, we view this through the lens of Biheo (Spleen deficiency). When the Spleen function is weakened, the body fails to convert food into clean energy, leaving behind a sticky residue called Damyum (phlegm-fluid). This waste obstructs the circulation of Qi and Blood, eventually leading to Eohyeol (blood stasis). This makes your body prone to swelling and resistant to weight loss, even if you eat very little. True weight management requires revitalizing the Spleen function to burn energy efficiently rather than relying on artificial sweetness. Let's focus on clearing out these metabolic wastes and restoring your body's natural balance.