Kimchi is a fermented food that originated in Korea over 3,000 years ago. The word “kimchi” means “spiced vegetable,” and it’s made by combining cabbage, radishes, onions, garlic, and other vegetables with chili peppers, fish sauce, and spices like ginger. It is a great source of vitamins A, B1, B2, and C as well as dietary fiber. It also contains minerals such as iron and calcium. Thanks to its high levels of vitamins K and B6 (folate), kimchi can help maintain healthy red blood cells.
Fermented foods like kimchi have been shown to have probiotic benefits. These foods contain live bacteria which can help you stay healthy when consumed regularly.
With such simple ingredients, you can easily make kimchi at home. When fermented, thanks to the combination of the vegetables and bacteria, we can find some surprising health benefits of eating kimchi:
Nutritious
Kimchi is the perfect way to add extra nutrients to your diet. Kimchi is made from Chinese cabbage, which is a nutritious addition to your diet. Full of vitamins A, B, C, minerals, amino acids, and fiber, kimchi yields great nutritional value. In just 1 serving, there are 23 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, folate, iron, and more.
Gut health
The lacto-fermentation process used to make kimchi breaks sugars into lactic acid. When you eat kimchi, good bacteria are being grown in your gut. One of these good bacteria is called probiotics—and they’re actually a superfood! Probiotics help fight against cancer and improve the immune system. They keep your digestive system healthy and regular so that you have fewer digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea. They also help keep your skin looking younger longer by keeping inflammation at bay (which is what causes wrinkles). And if that isn’t enough to convince you to try eating more kimchi—the same probiotics found in kimchi can also help keep your brain healthy and can boost mental health!
Lowers cholesterol
Kimchi is not only delicious, but it’s also good for your heart. A study conducted in Korea found that kimchi lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and blood glucose levels within the body. Whether it be small amounts for a short amount of time or large amounts over time, kimchi can help lower cholesterol. The garlic found in kimchi possesses allicin and selenium that work together to protect the heart and prevent plaque buildup.
Build immunity
A recent study has shown that Lactobacillus bacterium, which is created during the fermentation process that turns Chinese cabbage into kimchi, is a powerful immune system booster. When mice were injected with this bacterium and then tested for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), they were found to have lower levels of TNF-α than those who did not receive the injection. The researchers concluded that this result indicates a stronger immune system in those who were injected with Lactobacillus bacterium.
Heart health
A study conducted by the American Heart Association found that kimchi decreases blood sugar, cholesterol, and LDL (bad cholesterol). These three factors are all contributors to heart disease. The results of this study show that kimchi is not only a tasty addition to your diet, but one that will keep you from getting sick in the first place by improving heart health!
Fights Inflammation
Since the fermentation of the cabbage to create kimchi is full of probiotics, these can help decrease inflammation. There’s also evidence to suggest that the HDMPPA found in kimchi can decrease inflammation and make your blood vessels stronger.
In a study conducted on mice, researchers found that the HDMPPA found in kimchi decreased inflammation in their blood vessels. This can help to protect against cardiovascular disease. While more research is needed to be done on humans, this evidence is promising.
Antioxidants
But what makes kimchi so special? The secret ingredients found in kimchi contain powerful antioxidants that help fight against free radicals. For example, in some kimchi, the seeds found in red peppers are great sources of antioxidants. Containing phenols and flavonoids, these components act as a barrier against any free radicals.
So what does this mean for your body? Well, aside from helping you stay healthy, antioxidants can also help prevent disease by keeping you young and active! So if you want to start living the good life—literally—then you should definitely make sure to incorporate more kimchi into your diet!
Filling
If you’re looking for a low-calorie food that will help you feel fuller, longer, look no further than kimchi. This Korean condiment has been used as a staple in their diet for centuries and with good reason: it’s packed with fiber, which will make your stomach feel fuller. The probiotics in kimchi also help fight against any unhealthy cravings such as sugar—so the next time you want to eat some chocolate cake? Don’t! Instead, grab yourself some kimchi and enjoy its health benefits while the probiotics curb your sweet tooth.
Eye Health
Kimchi is a delicious and healthy way to get your daily dose of beta carotene.
Beta carotene is an antioxidant found in kimchi’s cabbage, and once it’s digested and processed by our bodies, it converts into vitamin A. Vitamin A helps to keep eye membranes healthy, it has been found to support the function of eye membranes and cornea to keep them strong and healthy.
Anti-Aging
Aging isn’t just fine lines and wrinkles—it’s also inflammation.
Kimchi has been suggested to help slow the aging process, but how? A study was done on human cells to see the relationship between aging and kimchi, and what was found was interesting. The cells were found with great health, and a longer lifespan regardless of their age.
The cell study showed that kimchi contains compounds that fight off free radicals that cause oxidative stress in our bodies. This is important because when we’re young, our bodies are able to fight off these free radicals, but as we age it becomes harder for us to do so.
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