Q. I tend to fast the day after overeating to make up for it. Is this actually worse for my health?

Many people try to 'offset' overeating by fasting the next day, but this pattern can completely disrupt your body's metabolic system. From the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this often leads to a state of 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛). When the Spleen—which is responsible for digestion and absorption—is weakened, food is not processed efficiently, leading to the accumulation of 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dam-eum, 痰飮), a type of metabolic waste. When you attempt to resolve this by fasting, your body perceives it as a crisis and enters a 'power-saving mode,' gripping onto energy more tightly. This creates a critical divide: 1. Gently reducing portions: Allows the metabolic rate to adjust gradually, giving the body time to adapt. 2. Extreme fasting: Causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly, prompting the brain to crave stronger stimuli (such as sugars or refined flour), which inevitably leads to a larger binge. Ultimately, fasting does not control weight; it breaks the appetite-regulation switch. Instead of forced deprivation, the priority should be improving the state of Spleen Deficiency to reduce 'false cravings.' Understanding your body's specific constitutional state is a far more efficient approach to long-term health.