Currently, there are many circulating food Korean specialty on the market. One of foodthe most famous of this ginseng country is kimchi. Tnot only known as it tastes delicious and fresh, Kimchi also has many benefits for health, you know!
Kimchi is a Korean dish made from vegetables, such as cabbage or radishes, mixed with garlic, salt, vinegar, chili, ginger, and other seasonings. The combination of these ingredients is then fermented and can be eaten with rice or noodles.
Benefits of Kimchi for Health
The following are some of the benefits that we can get from eating kimchi:
1. Meet the daily needs of vitamins and minerals
Cabbage is the main ingredient used in making kimchi. These vegetables contain lots of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and folate. In addition, cabbage also contains a variety of minerals, such as calcium, potassium, manganese, and magnesium.
Not only cabbage, vitamins and minerals are also contained in vegetables or other ingredients used as seasoning for kimchi, such as garlic with high manganese content, chili peppers which contain vitamin B6, and green onions which are rich in vitamin K.
2. Maintain a healthy digestive system
Kimchi contains a lot of good bacteria called Lactobacillus. These bacteria are able to maintain the function of the digestive system. Not only that, good bacteria also play a role in the metabolism of nutrients and drugs, maintain the immune system, and prevent viral and bacterial infections. The complex carbohydrates found in kimchi vegetables can also be food for good bacteria.
3. Prevent constipation
The fiber content in kimchi vegetables and good bacteria from fermented kimchi can help prevent constipation and facilitate bowel movements.
4. Treating viral, bacterial, and fungal infections
The good bacteria contained in kimchi can increase the body's resistance so that it can fight germs, including Helicobacter pylori which can cause gastric cancer and the avian influenza virus which causes bird flu.
5. Maintain weight
The vegetables used in kimchi are certainly low in calories. In 100 grams of kimchi, there are only about 18 kcal. Therefore, kimchi can be used as a food menu to lose or maintain ideal body weight.
Not only that, other ingredients contained in kimchi, such as red chilies and garlic, have also been shown to increase metabolism and speed up energy burning, thereby helping you lose weight.
6. Prevent cancer
Yellow and green vegetables used as ingredients for kimchi can serve to prevent inflammation. The content of these vegetables can also suppress the work of certain enzymes that can trigger the growth of cancer cells.
The anticancer effect will be more optimal if kimchi is added with other ingredients, such as mustard leaf, Chinese pepper, and extract Korean mistletoe. However, this still needs to be investigated further.
7. Helps lower blood sugar levels in diabetics
A study shows that high-fiber foods can help the growth of good bacteria that produce fatty acids. Fatty acids can help control blood sugar levels in the body, making it good for diabetics.
Seeing the many benefits that can be obtained, kimchi can be used as one of our daily menus. Besides kimchi, there are other types of fermented foods that are also good for health, such as tempeh, sauerkraut, kombucha, and yogurt.
Although fermented vegetables are rich in benefits, it is recommended that you continue to have a healthy diet by eating balanced nutritious foods and fresh vegetables and fruits every day.
In addition, limit the consumption of foods that contain saturated fat, high in sugar, and high in salt (sodium), including processed foods. If necessary, ask a nutritionist about the daily diet according to your health condition.
Written by:
dr. Alya Hananti
