Can I actually lose weight using those trendy diet coffees or drinks? I'm curious about the perspective of a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) clinic.
To put it simply, these supplementary drinks are merely 'supplements.' While they may temporarily boost metabolism or curb appetite, they cannot fundamentally change your constitution or metabolic capacity. Rather than blindly following trends, the first priority should be identifying the root cause of why your body is gaining weight through a personalized assessment.
Most commercial diet coffees or beverages rely on caffeine or specific stimulants to create a temporary awakening effect or accelerate metabolism. However, the human body is complex, and simply trying to 'burn' calories has its limits. In Traditional Korean Medicine, weight gain is viewed not merely as a calorie imbalance, but as a result of stagnation in the body's internal circulation.
First, there is the concept of 'Dam-eum' (痰飮), which refers to a state where metabolic waste products accumulate as a viscous fluid in the body. When Dam-eum is prevalent, metabolism slows down, making it easy to gain weight even with minimal intake. Additionally, 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血), or blood stasis, can lead to inflammatory responses and severe edema (swelling). In such states, consuming high-caffeine drinks may cause heart palpitations or insomnia, further deteriorating your overall condition.
I recommend the following healthy approach:
1. Assess your current 'Qi' (energy) state: Check if you are sleeping well and if your digestion is functioning properly.
2. Improve Spleen Deficiency (脾虛): If the spleen function is weak, nutrients are not absorbed or transported efficiently, leading to 'false hunger.' This function must be reinforced first.
3. Clear Dam-eum (痰飮) and Eo-hyeol (瘀血): Empty the accumulated metabolic waste to increase metabolic efficiency.
4. Apply personalized prescriptions: Use herbal medicine tailored to your specific constitution to regulate appetite and naturally increase your basal metabolic rate.
5. Establish sustainable habits: Instead of extreme fasting, find a diet that your body feels comfortable with.
Having tried various fad diets myself before becoming a practitioner, I understand the frustration. However, if the body's 'engine' (metabolism) is broken, simply changing the 'fuel' (drinks) won't solve the problem. If you visit our clinic, we can analyze the current state of your metabolic engine together.
Clinician review