Q. Will I gain less weight if I drink alcohol without any side dishes? I'm worried about whether it's okay to have a drink while on a diet.

When alcohol enters the body, the system recognizes it as a toxin and prioritizes its detoxification. During this process, the fat-burning mechanism is temporarily suspended. Therefore, even if you avoid side dishes, the energy already stored in your body remains unburned and continues to accumulate. From the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), repeating this pattern easily leads to the formation of 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention). Dam-eum refers to sticky waste products that accumulate when the body's fluid metabolism is impaired, which is why you experience a heavy feeling and swelling. Specifically, those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen Deficiency)—a weakened digestive function—may experience significant energy depletion and severe edema even when drinking alcohol alone. If this is coupled with 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis), where blood circulation is stagnant, your metabolic rate slows down even further. This is why you may feel particularly sluggish and find it difficult to lose weight the day after drinking. Rather than suggesting total abstinence, it is important to assess your current metabolic state and determine which types of alcohol are less burdensome for your specific constitution. Finding a way to maintain internal balance rather than simply starving yourself while drinking is a much more sustainable and healthy approach.