Many people eat low-calorie snacks when trying to lose weight. What would you recommend as a TKM doctor?

To be honest, I've also gone through a bit of trial and error while dieting, trying various 'healthy' alternatives. Zero-sugar snacks are incredibly sweet and tempting, and their advantage is clear: they satisfy immediate cravings and provide a psychological sense of reward, which can help prevent binge eating and reduce stress during the early stages of a diet. However, there are precautions. Products loaded with artificial sweeteners can easily disrupt the gut environment. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), if these processed foods are consumed while the body is in a state of 'Bi-heo' (脾虛)—meaning the Spleen function is weakened—digestive power can decrease further, leaving the body feeling heavy. Furthermore, there is the 'memory of taste.' If you become accustomed to the intense sweetness of substitutes, healthy whole foods may taste bland when you eventually return to a natural diet, leading to a vicious cycle of seeking sweets again. Depending on the situation, you can use these snacks occasionally when cravings are unbearable. For daily habits, I recommend roasted nuts or warm ginger tea. 'False hunger' caused by the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (痰飮)—metabolic waste and phlegm-fluid retention in the body—is much more effectively calmed by teas with warm properties. I encourage you to observe whether your body is truly hungry or if it is simply a craving. If you visit the clinic, I will examine your current digestive state and energy levels to help you curate a personalized list of the best snacks for your constitution.