Why Kimchi is a Superfood

THE CHOPSTICKLOUNGE

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(THECHOPSTICKLOUNGE)HaveyouevertriedtraditionalKoreanfood?No,Koreanfoodisn'tjustbarbecue,friedchicken,andsoju.TraditionalKoreanfoodisactuallysuperhealthyandcomeswithalitanyofsidedishescalled"banchan".Thesesidedishesusuallyconsistofvariousvegetables,leanmeatsandfish,andheartystews.However,noKoreanmealiscompletewithoutthemainstaroftheshow,Kimchi!KoreanshavebeeneatingKimchiforthousandsofyearsandwasrecentlynamedasoneoftheWorld'sHealthiestFoods.Today,IwanttodiscussthebenefitsofeatingKimchiandwhyitsconsideredtobepotentsuperfood.

WhatisKimchi?

Kimchiisaspicyfermentedsidedishthatistypicallymadeofcabbage.Now,forthosethatknowwhatKimchiis,youmightautomaticallythinkallKimchiisthewhitenapacabbageversion,butthisisnottrue!Kimchiisjustatermtodescribethewayasidedishispreparedandfermentedusingspicyredpepperpaste,groundpepper,salt,sugar,etc.Althoughthecabbageversionisthemostpopular,therearedozensofformsofKimchi,suchasKimchimadeofradish,scallions,leafygreens,cucumbers,etc.InordertomakeKimchi,youneedtoprepareitwiththeproperingredientsandthenitisfermentedinspecialfermentationjarsformonthsatatime.Thelongerthebetter!Thefinaltasteshouldbealittlesalty,spicy,andsour.Itworksastheperfectcomplimenttomeatandrice.

WhatMakesKimchiaSuperfood?

TheaverageKoreaneatsabout40poundsofKimchieachyear.So,whydoKoreansloveeatingthisspicyfermentedsidedishsomuch?Well,it'sgottobebecauseofitsamazinghealthbenefits!

AccordingtoHealth.com,KimchiispackedwithessentialVitaminsA,B,andC,butthatisn'tthemostimpressivepartaboutKimchi.Kimchiisprizedbecauseofitshighlevelsof"goodbacteria"orprobiotics.ThefermentationprocessofKimchicontributestotheformationoflacticacidbacteria,whichisknowntohelpwithdigestion,preventyeastinfections,reducestheriskofcertaincancers,suchascolonandbladdercancer,etc.

HereisalistofthenutritionalbenefitsofKimchifromLifehack:

·RichinVitaminsA,B1(Thiamine),B2(Riboflavin),andC

·Richincalcium,iron,anddietaryfiber

·Containsnaturalprobiotics

·Lowerscholesterol

·CanhelpwithimprovedeyesightduetohighlevelsofVitaminA

·KeepsyourskinandhairhealthyduetotheseleniumfoundinthegarlicinKimchi

·Helpspreventcancer

·Canhelpyouloseweightduetolowcaloriesandfat

·Canhelppreventpepticulcers

·StrengthensyourimmunesystemduetohighlevelsofVitaminC

·Manymore!

AfterreadingthehealthbenefitsofKimchiandwhyitisconsideredasuperfood,IhopeyouguysarewillingtotryandbuyajarofKimchiatyournextgrocerystorevisit!Enjoy!