1. Kimchi Can Help You Lose Weight:
Korean cuisine is famous for its spicy food which contains lots of fat and calories. However, Korean cuisine does not contain any sugar or salt so it helps you lose weight easily. If you are looking to lose weight, then kimchi might be a good option for you because it has no fat and calories.
Eating kimchi will give your body energy and keep your metabolism high.
2. Kimchi Is Good For Your Skin:
Kimchi is rich in vitamins A, B6, C and K. These vitamins are essential for maintaining healthy skin. It helps with fighting free radicals which cause aging and wrinkles.
It also prevents sunburns and other skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, acne vulgaris etc.. It protects against skin cancer and some types of cancers like melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. It also improves elasticity of skin and reduces fine lines.
3. Kimchi Helps With Digestion:
It helps with digestion because it contains fiber which keeps your digestive system working properly. Also, it is a great source of protein which promotes growth of beneficial bacteria in the stomach and intestines. Kimchi helps reduce constipation and bloating due to its high content of vitamin B12 which aids in proper absorption of nutrients from foods.
4. It Can Protect You From Infections:
The government of Korea has recently started to include more kimchi in its soldiers’ diet in order to protect them from catching a cold or the flu when they are on duty. It contains large amounts of vitamin C which helps the body to produce and increase white blood cells. These white blood cells help us fight against bacteria and other harmful organisms which cause infections, hence it can help you stay away from getting sick.
5. It Can Protect You From Diabetes And Heart Diseases:
Kimchi contains fructooligosaccharides which is healthy bacteria and acts as a prebiotic and encourages the growth of good bacteria in our gut. This prevents constipation and other bowel problems that are commonly found in diabetics. A healthy digestive system prevents heart diseases and other lifestyle diseases.
6. It Is A Rich Source Of Antioxidants:
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is also required to build collagen which maintains the strength of your bones. It also contains Vit B which are antioxidants that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. A diet rich in antioxidants prevents diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and premature aging.
7. It Can Help You Get A Good Night’s Sleep:
Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid promotes a good night’s sleep. Vitamin B6 and B12 converts the food you eat into serotonin and melatonin which are neurotransmitters responsible for sleep regulation. Lack of these vitamins can lead to sleep disorders.
Folic acid is also linked to restful sleep because it helps in regulating the nervous system.
8. It Can Prevent Premature Aging:
Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals prevent aging and keeps your skin healthy. The nutrients in kimchi improve the overall appearance of your skin and keep wrinkles away. It also helps with treating acne and other skin-related issues.
9. It Provides A Boost To Your Immune System:
Vitamins A and C are both powerful antioxidants which boost the immune system. These vitamins prevent infections caused by bacteria and viruses.
10. It Can Help You With Weight Loss:
Due to the presence of dietary fibers, kimchi helps you feel fuller faster and for longer periods of time, which in turn prevents overeating and weight gain. Also, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, but low in calories which prevents weight gain as well. Vitamin B12 prevents the symptoms of fatigue which usually come along with weight loss diets.
11. It Promotes Digestive Health:
Due to the presence of lactobacillus and other beneficial bacteria, kimchi promotes digestive health and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria that cause obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, and many other lifestyle diseases.
12. It Boosts Energy Levels:
Vitamins B and C boost your energy levels and prevents fatigue due to their involvement in metabolism. Also, kimchi contains a good amount of iron which transports oxygen to your cells. This prevents anemia and other diseases which are caused due to a lack of oxygen in your body.
13. It Is Gluten-Free:
Since kimchi does not contain any gluten, it is perfect for people with celiac disease. It can also be eaten by people who are allergic to gluten because the bacteria present in kimchi help in reducing the toxicity of food.
14. It Is A Great Snack:
Since kimchi is low in calories and high in nutrients, it is the perfect snack to have when you are feeling hungry between meals.
15. It Can Be Used In Many Different Ways:
There are many different ingredients used to make kimchi, all of which add their own unique flavor and nutrients to this amazing food. It can be eaten on its own, added to different foods to add a burst of flavor, or even be used as a soup ingredient.
16. It Is Available At Most Grocery Stores:
Even if you don’t like the taste of kimchi, you can still buy it and use it in recipes to add a burst of flavor.
17. It Can Be Used As A Sauce:
When kimchi is mixed with a bit of gochujang, it becomes a great dipping sauce for meat and other finger foods. When drizzled over boiled pork or beef, it adds a nice spicy flavor which is perfect for cold days.
18. It Can Be Used In Many Korean Recipes:
There are many different recipes that call for kimchi, some more popular than others. To name a few, there is kimchi stew, kimchi pancakes, kimchi fried rice, kimchi soup, kimchi fried noodles, and many more. There are so many different recipes out there to try out and they all taste great!
19. It Can Be Used As A Side Dish:
Along with tasting great, kimchi also looks very appetizing. When used as a side dish, it adds a nice colorful touch to your meal. It can also be placed on the table as a part of the table decoration since it looks great.
20. It Is Fun To Make At Home:
If you ever have the urge to make your own kimchi, there are many recipes online that you can follow. There is nothing like eating food you made yourself and kimchi is one of those foods that people enjoy making at home. It is fun, easy and most importantly, tasty!
When it comes to weight loss, kimchi really is the perfect food. It is tasty and effective, and the best thing is, you don’t have to give up other foods when eating it. It can be easily incorporated into your everyday meals.
All you need to do is purchase some at your local grocery store or supermarket, or if you’re feeling adventurous you can make it yourself!
So what are you waiting for?
Go buy some kimchi and get cooking!
Sources & references used in this article:
Silent polymorphisms speak: how they affect pharmacogenomics and the treatment of cancer by ZE Sauna, C Kimchi-Sarfaty, SV Ambudkar… – Cancer research, 2007 – AACR
Metagenomic analysis of kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented food by JY Jung, SH Lee, JM Kim, MS Park… – Applied and …, 2011 – Am Soc Microbiol
Additional organ resection combined with pancreaticoduodenectomy does not increase postoperative morbidity and mortality by M Nikfarjam, M Sehmbey, ET Kimchi, NJ Gusani… – Journal of …, 2009 – Springer
Multidisciplinary management of malignant pleural effusion by JT Kaifi, JW Toth, NJ Gusani, ET Kimchi… – Journal of surgical …, 2012 – Wiley Online Library
Health benefits of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi, with respect to immunomodulatory effects by HJ Choi, NK Lee, HD Paik – Food Science and Biotechnology, 2015 – Springer
