Q. I'm an office worker who eats out often. Is there something I can eat beforehand to prevent overeating?

Overeating during social outings is often not a matter of willpower, but a result of disrupted bodily signals. This typically falls into two categories. First, there is 'true hunger' caused by an empty stomach. In this case, consuming low-calorie snacks like a few almonds or cucumber slices is recommended. When blood sugar drops too low, the brain enters 'survival mode,' which triggers binge eating. Second, there is 'false hunger' triggered by stress or boredom even when not physically hungry. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this is viewed through the lens of Dam-eum (痰飮, the accumulation of metabolic waste that obstructs the flow of Qi and Blood) or Bi-heo (脾虛, deficiency of the Spleen/digestive system leading to poor energy metabolism). When waste products accumulate in the body, you frequently experience these false hunger signals. Rather than simply resisting, using herbal medicine to regulate gastrointestinal tension and naturally suppress appetite is a more sustainable approach. Furthermore, if you have Eo-hyeol (瘀血, blood stasis or stagnant blood), your overall metabolism slows down, making you feel bloated more quickly. It is crucial to determine whether you are experiencing 'true hunger' or 'disrupted metabolic signaling.' We recommend visiting the clinic for a professional assessment to develop a personalized strategy for your body type.