What is kimchi?
Indeed, this low-fat and high-fiber meal is so famous it’s widely available in Asian grocery stores and health food stores all over the country. But, what exactly is kimchi? Kimchi is a red, fermented cabbage dish (occasionally, with radish) made with a mix of salt, vinegar, garlic, chile peppers and other spices. These ingredients are fermented in a tightly closed jar and are subsequently served with rice, noodles or soups in every Korean’s household. So, why should you let this spicy meal enter your mouth? Here are nine benefits of kimchi you can pass on to your friends:
1. Contains healthy bacteria and probiotics for the overall wellness of your body
Because kimchi is fermented, like yogurt, it contains “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli that aids in the digestion process of your body. Another amazing by-product of its fermentation process are the probiotics can also fight off various infections in your body.
2. Lowers cholesterol levels
If you’re suffering from high blood pressure or a high cholesterol amount in your blood, don’t fret. The garlic found in kimchi contains allicin and selenium – both of which are helpful in decreasing the cholesterol reserves of the body. In addition, these substances also indirectly help you prevent chances of developing stroke or other cardiovascular diseases of any kind, due to its prevention of plaque build-up in the walls of your arteries.
3. Facilitates healthy body development and clear vision
A 100-gram serving of kimchi has 18% of the daily value of vitamin A, if we consider the 2,000-calorie per day diet. Aside from vitamin A being an antioxidant which can help get rid of free radicals in your body that cause cancer, the benefits of kimchi are not limited to this only. This same vitamin A is significant in developing a healthy body, including in embryos; it’s also helpful in the maintenance of clear and healthy eyesight.
4. 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.
5. Prevents stomach cancer
Professor Miri Kim of the Food Nutrition Department in Chungnam National University discovered Chinese cabbage and radish found in kimchi contain bio-chemicals such as isocyanate and sulfide helpful in detoxifying heavy metals found in your liver, small intestine and kidney. These bio-chemicals, particularly isocyanate, are studied to be able to prevent stomach cancer as well.
6. 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 anti-oxidants 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.
7. 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.
8. Prevents the occurrence of peptic ulcer
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 mensenteroides which produce dextrin, a substance important to stop the growth of H. pylori in your body!
9. Boosts your immunity
Professor Rina Yu of the Food and Nutrition Department in 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%. Featured photo credit: cabbages.jpg/kenny123 via cdn.morguefile.com
