Kimchi is a national Korean dish. It is a fermented vegetable dish and is usually served as a side dish. There are many different variations of Kimchi, approximately 300.
You can buy Kimchi ready made in supermarkets, however, like most convenience foods they are often loaded with artificial flavorings and harmful additives. Any goodness from the vegetables would have been eliminated from the excessive processing.
Why Is Korean Kimchi Good for You?
Kimchi is lauded for its valuable nutritional benefits and potent antioxidant properties, due to its fresh vegetable ingredients that are packed with:
- Vitamins A and C
- Healthy fiber
- Lactobacilli, and lactic acid
- Capsaicin, the active antioxidant component in chili peppers
- Allicin, the cancer-fighting chemical in garlic
- Indole-3-Carbinol in Chinese cabbage
All these are made possible by fermented foods’ powerful chelating properties (which effectively get rid of harmful chemicals and heavy metals in your body), and impressive levels of probiotics, which are proven to:
- Improve the production and absorption of vital nutrients such as B-vitamins and vitamin K2, which keeps calcium in the bones and out of your arteries
- Regulate dietary fat absorption
- Lower your cancer risk
- Enhance mood and mental health
- Modulate your immune response and reduce inflammation
- Control asthma and reduce risk of allergies
Nutritional consultant Caroline Barringer says eating just as little as a quarter to one half cup of fermented vegetables one to three meals every day can deliver dramatically beneficial impacts on your health. But Dr. McBride believes this may be too overwhelming for individuals who are suffering from serious digestive disorders due to the compromised condition of their gut. She suggests starting with the juice of the ferment first and then slowly working your way up until you’re ready to take small amounts of vegetables.
The best way to enjoy it and to make sure that it is fresh and full of vitamins is to make it yourself. It is not difficult. Next page you will find a simple recipe.
