Kimchi, a spicy pickled vegetable dish, is a staple in Korean cuisine. Traditionally it is made with cabbage, scallion, and radish brine with garlic, ginger, chili pepper, and fish sauce. Once the ingredients are combined, the kimchi is allowed to ferment. Today, Korean foods such as bibimbap, tteokbokki, ramyeon, and kimchi have become popular across the globe. In South Korea, Kimchi has a rich history that dates back to more than 2000 years.
There are hundreds of kinds of Kimchi that are enjoyed in South Korea. Following are some health benefits of this Korean side dish:
1. Boost Your Immune Health
As per BBC’s good food, research conducted earlier indicates that kimchi may be able to strengthen your immune system. The bacteria present in kimchi that helps it ferment is known to improve immune function and lower levels of inflammation that diseases may trigger.
2. Promotes Heart Health
Kimchi comprises antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering properties. These essentially improve heart health by decreasing cholesterol and inflammation. Some studies also suggest that kimchi can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
3. Help lose Weight
Another study mentioned by the BBC good food suggests that kimchi has a considerable effect on body weight, body mass index (BMI), and glucose management. How kimchi supports these beneficial effects is unclear, and more research needs to be conducted to attain answers.
4. Contains lots of Important Nutrients
There are many vital nutrients in Kimchi. Beta carotene antioxidants are the main nutrient present in the side dish due to cabbage. This then converts into Vitamin A in our body. A natural compound vital for maintaining your cells, muscles, nervous system, and even your memory, Choline is also present in Kimchi.
It is also rich in Vitamin K, which helps keep your bones from becoming fragile and helps with blood clots.
5. Help with Inflammation
Fermented foods such as kimchi have anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can help benefit from improving memory and cognitive function to supporting vascular health.
6. Potentially Help Blood Sugar Management
As mentioned on Women’s Health, kimchi may potentially lower your blood sugar. A small study revealed that patients who added kimchi to their diet for 8 weeks had shown better glucose tolerance. This suggests that kimchi helps decrease insulin resistance and improve glucose metabolism.
7. Kimchi Can Improve Gut Health
Kimchi is comprised of good bacteria. Consuming it often can help balance bacteria in your gut. This then benefits your gut health by aiding smooth digestion.
Top 5 Food Trends Pakistanis Enjoyed in 2020. Read the full story here:
2020 was an unusual year for all of us. All we did in our homes, isolated, was find comfort in little things such as spending time with our family, painting, playing an instrument, or even stirring up our comfort food. Speaking of comfort food, I think we all agree that it was defiantly the theme of food trends this year. Food trends worldwide change everywhere, ranging from expensive meats to fine drinks and more.
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