Q. Convenient diet coffees, like the one from Compose Coffee, are very trendy right now. As a practitioner of Korean Medicine, do you recommend these types of products?

I completely understand the appeal of diet coffee; as someone who needs a cup to function every morning, I have even tried various diet drinks myself in the past. These products offer clear advantages: they are highly accessible and convenient for busy professionals. Ingredients like Garcinia help inhibit the synthesis of carbohydrates into fat, which provides significant psychological relief after meals. However, the drawbacks are equally significant. Depending on your body constitution, caffeine can trigger heart palpitations or insomnia. Those with weak digestive systems may experience heartburn or bloating. Crucially, these are merely temporary aids and do not address the root cause of a weight-gaining constitution. In Korean Medicine, weight gain is often attributed to Spleen Deficiency (Biheo). When the Spleen, which governs digestion and transformation, weakens, metabolic waste known as Phlegm-fluid (Dameum) accumulates in the body. This creates a vicious cycle where low energy leads to cravings for stimulating foods. While diet coffee might curb your appetite temporarily, it cannot fundamentally resolve this state of Spleen Deficiency. It is fine to use them as a secondary aid, but if your metabolic system is already compromised, it is better to seek professional advice. Identifying whether your body has excess Phlegm-fluid or a lack of Qi (vital energy) is the true shortcut to sustainable weight loss.