Kimchi is good for your health. It’s low in calories and fat while boasting an impressive list of nutrients, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Kimchi is effective at reducing cholesterol and improving gut health. It is also full of antioxidants and anti-aging properties. Kimchi is full of beta-carotene and other antioxidant compounds that can help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as stroke, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Here we are going to discuss the benefits of kimchi.
Kimchi Good for You
Improve digestive health
Kimchi is a fermented food, which makes it an excellent probiotic. The same lactobacilli bacteria found in yogurt and other fermented dairy products are also found in kimchi. Consuming the so-called “good bacteria” in kimchi can help you maintain healthy digestion. Eating the probiotics found in fermented food can help reduce the negative symptoms of many gastrointestinal disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and colon inflammation. Maintaining a healthy gut flora is important to your overall health.
Protect your heart
Probiotics have been shown to improve heart health by reducing cholesterol and inflammation. Studies show that kimchi can also reduce your risk of atherosclerosis through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Immune system support
Early research indicates kimchi may be able to strengthen your immune system. The bacteria that help ferment kimchi have been connected to improved immune function and lower levels of inflammation triggered by disease. The vitamin C found in kimchi can also help boost your immune health.
Produces radiant skin and shiny hair
Kimchi doesn’t just make your inner beauty shine through – it makes your outer appearance appear excellent as well. Because the selenium found in garlic in kimchi keeps your skin and hair healthy, eating kimchi helps you prevent wrinkles in the long run. Also, selenium is a relevant part of glutathione, a booster that reconstitutes vitamin C and preserves it, thereby making it stronger and more effective in the body.
Prevents stomach cancer
Professor Miri Kim of the Food Nutrition Department in Chungnam National University discovered Chinese cabbage and radish found in kimchi contain biochemicals such as isocyanate and sulfide helpful in detoxifying heavy metals found in your liver, small intestine, and kidney. These biochemicals, particularly isocyanate, are studied to be able to prevent stomach cancer as well.
Slows down the aging process
Ever wondered why Koreans look young for their age? This is just one of the many benefits of kimchi you can consider: kimchi, after two weeks of being fermented, is rich in antioxidants which decrease the rate of aging of the skin. It also inhibits cell oxidation, making you look carefree and relaxed, even though you’re under a lot of stress.
Helps you lose weight
150 grams of kimchi contains only 40 calories. But it’s not limited to this – kimchi helps carbohydrate metabolism to aid you in losing weight. Additionally, the capsaicin found in chili peppers in this Korean dish boosts your metabolism and makes you use the excess energy in your body, thereby increasing weight loss.
Prevents the occurrence of peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer is commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacteria found in the stomach. How can we stop its growth? By eating kimchi. Kimchi contains leuconostoc mesenteries which produce dextrin, a substance important to stop the growth of H. pylori in your body!
Boosts your immunity
Professor Rina Yu of the Food and Nutrition Department at the University of Ulsan found out kimchi causes the immune cells to be more active and the antibodies to be more abundant. Eating a high cholesterol diet can give 55% immune cell activity, a normal diet can give 68% but a high cholesterol diet plus kimchi can give 75%.
One Cup Kimchi Nutrition
- Calories: 23
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fat: Less than 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 4 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 2 grams
How to Prepare and Eat Kimchi
There are plenty of recipes for making your own kimchi at home. The most important part of making kimchi is keeping it at a cool, stable temperature to allow it to ferment before unwanted bacteria can grow. You can also buy kimchi at many grocery stores, Korean markets, and health food stores.
Kimchi can be eaten on its own, as a side dish, or as an ingredient in other foods. Its spicy, tangy flavor is an excellent complement to savory foods, and it’s often paired with rich dishes to add contrast to a meal.
Here are some ways to add kimchi to your diet:
- Mix kimchi into savory dishes like hash browns or potato pancakes.
- Use kimchi as a filling in an omelet.
- Make bibimbap with kimchi.
- Stir kimchi into homemade fried rice or any savory grain bowl.
- Add kimchi as an ingredient to your next sandwich.
Is kimchi good for weight loss?
Fresh and fermented kimchi are both low in calories and may boost weight loss. A 4-week study in 22 people with excess weight found that eating fresh or fermented kimchi helped reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat. Additionally, the fermented variety decreased blood sugar levels.
How much kimchi should I eat per day?
For the benefits of kimchi to be effective, probiotics and beneficial bacteria need to be consumed regularly. Regular can mean a lot of different things to everyone so more specifically, it is recommended that one serving (100g) of kimchi is consumed daily.
