For awhile, it was olive oil. Scientists, puzzled by the long lifespans of the Mediterraneans, singled out it out as a key ingredient in the elixir of life.
Then there was Japan, whose lengthy spell at the top of global longevity rankings was attributed to its citizens’ low-fat diet and love of raw fish.
Now, with recent studies conducted by Imperial College London showing that the South Koreans are set to live longer than anyone else by 2030, the question is: is there something in the kimchi?
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The Kimchi we're most familiar with is the one made with fermented napa cabbage
So what exactly is kimchi?
There are over 180 varieties of kimchi and probably the most popular of all and the one we're most familiar with is the baechu-kimchi (배추김치). It is a quintessential banchan (read: side dish) in Korean cuisine, made with salted, seasoned, and fermented napa cabbage.
What makes kimchi healthy?
Its fermentation process. Fermentation dates back thousands of years, but it is now being held up as a potentially important source of friendly, gut-healthy bacteria.
Healthy appetiser of tofu topped with kimchi and white sesame seeds
The good fight
We've been taught for a long time that bacteria isn't a good thing. But the bacteria that comes from fermented foods is not an enemy - it is in fact, the heroes aiding in our digestion.
First, napa cabbage is soaked in salt water to kill off any harmful bacteria. And then, the remaining bacteria called lactobacillus, the beneficial bacteria found in yoghurt and in a healthy gut, converts the sugars and carbohydrate into lactic acid, which preserves the vegetables and give kimchi its signature tang.
The verdict
The result is a dish rich in vitamins A and B and minerals like calcium and iron on top of its gut-healthy bacteria. It is said that the average Korean adult consumes at least one serving (100g) of kimchi a day, which immediately puts them over 50% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C and carotene.
Additionally, most types of kimchi contain onions, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers; ingredients that are salutary. Thus, researchers believe that the benefits are multifold — from toting cancer-fighting properties and lowering cholesterol to improving mental health and skin.
Written by Alethea Tan Alethea traded her office cubicle for a home desk in Vietnam couple of years back, freelancing from wherever her food adventures would take her; from pho-slurping in Ho Chi Minh City to snail-picking in Hanoi. She has since returned to the motherland and now spends her time sussing out new restaurants to visit, recipes to cook and ways to terrorise her cat.
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