Professional Documents
Culture Documents
It may also boast other vegetables, including radish, celery, carrot, cucumber,
eggplant, spinach, scallions, beets, and bamboo shoots.
Though kimchi is usually fermented for a few days to a few weeks before
serving, it can be eaten fresh, or unfermented, immediately after preparation.
This dish is not only delectable but also offers many health benefits (1, 2, 3).
1. Nutrient dense
Kimchi is packed with nutrients while being low in calories.
Calories: 23
Carbs: 4 grams
Protein: 2 grams
Fat: less than 1 gram
Fiber: 2 grams
Sodium: 747 mg
Vitamin B6: 19% of the Daily Value (DV)
Vitamin C: 22% of the DV
Vitamin K: 55% of the DV
Folate: 20% of the DV
Iron: 21% of the DV
Niacin: 10% of the DV
Riboflavin: 24% of the DV
Many green vegetables are good sources of nutrients like vitamin K and
riboflavin. Because kimchi often comprises several green veggies, such
as cabbage, celery, and spinach, it’s typically a great source of these nutrients.
What’s more, the fermentation process may develop additional nutrients that
are more easily absorbed by your body (8, 9, 10).
SUMMARY
Kimchi has an excellent nutritional profile. The dish is low in calories but
packed with nutrients like iron, folate, and vitamins B6 and K.
2. Contains probiotics
The lacto-fermentation process that kimchi undergoes makes it particularly
unique. Fermented foods not only have an extended shelf life but also an
enhanced taste and aroma (11).
Keep in mind that many of these findings are related to high-dose probiotic
supplements and not the amounts found in a typical serving of kimchi.
SUMMARY
Fermented foods like kimchi offer probiotics, which may help prevent and treat
several conditions.
Because TNF alpha levels are often elevated during infection and disease, a
decrease indicates that the immune system is working efficiently (36, 37).
A test-tube study that isolated Lactobacillus plantarum from kimchi likewise
demonstrated that this bacterium has immune-enhancing effects (38).
SUMMARY
For example, a mouse study revealed that HDMPPA, one of the principal
compounds in kimchi, improved blood vessel health by suppressing
inflammation (41).
SUMMARY
HDMPPA, an active compound in kimchi, may play a large role in reducing
inflammation.
Still, overall research is lacking. Many more studies are needed before kimchi
can be recommended as an anti-aging treatment.
SUMMARY
A test-tube study indicates that kimchi may slow the aging process, though
more research is necessary.
SUMMARY
Probiotic-rich foods like kimchi may help prevent yeast infections, though
research is in the early stages.
A 4-week study in 22 people with excess weight found that eating fresh or
fermented kimchi helped reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI),
and body fat. Additionally, the fermented variety decreased blood sugar levels
(50).
Keep in mind that those who ate fermented kimchi displayed significantly
greater improvements in blood pressure and body fat percentage than those
who ate the fresh dish (50).
It’s unclear which properties of kimchi are responsible for its weight loss
effects — though its low calorie count, high fiber content, and probiotics could
all play a role.
SUMMARY
Though the specific mechanism isn’t known, kimchi may help reduce body
weight, body fat, and even blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
In an 8-week study in mice fed a high cholesterol diet, fat levels in the blood
and liver were lower in those given kimchi extract than in people in the control
group. In addition, the kimchi extract appeared to suppress fat growth (55).
Meanwhile, a weeklong study including 100 people found that eating 0.5–7.5
ounces (15–210 grams) of kimchi daily significantly decreased blood
sugar, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels — all of which are risk
factors for heart disease (56).
SUMMARY
To make a version that’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans, simply leave
out the fish sauce and saeujeot.
If you prefer fresh over fermented kimchi, stop after step 6.
If you choose fermentation, you’ll know that it’s ready to eat once it starts to
smell and taste sour — or when small bubbles begin to move through the jar.
After fermentation, you can refrigerate your kimchi for up to 1 year. It will
continue to ferment but at a slower rate due to the cool temperature.
Bubbling, bulging, a sour taste, and a softening of the cabbage are perfectly
normal for kimchi. However, if you notice a foul odor or any signs of mold, such
as a white film atop the food, your dish has spoiled and should be thrown out.
SUMMARY
Kimchi can be made at home using a few simple steps. Typically, it needs to
ferment 3–21 days depending on the surrounding temperature.
Recently, this dish has been linked to E. coli and norovirus outbreaks (57, 58).
Furthermore, the histamine content of kimchi varies by the product and how
it’s produced (60).
That said, purchasing the kimchi from a reliable source and correctly storing
the kimchi can minimize the risk of any adverse effects.
Finally, although people with high blood pressure may have concerns about
this dish’s high sodium content, a study in 114 people with this condition showed
no significant relationship between kimchi intake and high blood pressure (61).
SUMMARY
Kimchi has very few risks. Nonetheless, this dish has been tied to outbreaks
of food poisoning, so people with compromised immune systems may want to
use extra caution.
These healthy microorganisms may give kimchi several health benefits. It may
help regulate your immune system, promote weight loss, fight inflammation,
and even slow the aging process.