Q. Is it absolutely forbidden to order delivery food while on a diet? How do Korean medicine clinics suggest managing this?

Even as a practitioner of Korean Medicine, I occasionally find delivery food irresistible. From a professional standpoint, however, the excessive salt and sugar in these meals easily lead to the formation of 'Dameum' (痰飮). In TKM, Dameum refers to a state where metabolic waste and fluids are not properly excreted and instead stagnate as a viscous residue, making the body feel heavy and slowing down the overall metabolism. If you cannot give up delivery food, try the following approach: 1. Menu Selection: Choose steamed or grilled options over fried foods. Greasy foods put a significant burden on those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), or a deficiency in the Spleen/digestive system. 2. Consumption Method: Eat a vegetable salad before the main dish. Consuming dietary fiber first prevents blood sugar spikes and assists in the excretion of waste. 3. Post-Meal Management: Take a light 20-minute walk after eating. Promoting the flow of stagnated 'Qi' helps improve 'Eohyeol' (瘀血)—the condition of blood stasis or poor circulation—which prevents temporary edema from turning into permanent fat. 4. Customized Prescription: Cravings are often not a lack of willpower, but a result of hormonal imbalance or diminished metabolic function. In such cases, herbal medicine can be highly effective in suppressing 'false hunger' and boosting your basal metabolic rate. Ultimately, the key is 'sustainability' rather than 'perfection.' Instead of stressing over extreme restrictions, the best way to avoid the yo-yo effect is to gradually adjust your direction while maintaining your body's internal balance.