Project Description

What is kimchi?

Kimchi is the most popular side dish in Korea. It is made from vegetables fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB).  Some of the typical ingredients in kimchi include cabbage, radish, scallion, and chilli, as well as healthy, functional foods such as garlic and ginger. An average of 40 pounds of kimchi is consumed per person per year in Korea, and it is considered Korea’s national dish.

 

What makes kimchi beneficial?

Fermented foods were amongst the first processed foods consumed by people, valued for its extended shelf-life and safety.

Kimchi contains high levels of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and other functional components, depending on the ingredients. Many studies have reported health benefits of kimchi including effects such as being anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and more. (7)

Kimchi contains living micro-organisms which are amplified during fermentation. In addition to the high amounts of LAB, kimchi has probiotic effects which improve overall health. (5)

 

Health benefits of kimchi

Kimchi is a neutraceutical

Due to the fermentation process, kimchi contains a high number of lactic acid bacteria (108~9/ml), organic acids, vitamin B, vitamin C, carotenoids, chlorophylls, indole-3-carbinol, flavonoids, dietary fibre, unsaturated fatty acids, and more – all of which are beneficial to health. (1)

Kimchi helps improve digestion and gut health

Micro-organisms in kimchi associated with the fermentation process can provide beneficial functions in the GI tract as it contains large numbers of live cells which belong to a species which has demonstrated health benefits (eg L. plantarum). Kimchi likely has similar benefits to the probiotic lactobacilli. For kimchi to have these health benefits, it must be raw and unpasteurised. Maintaining levels of good gut flora in the GI tract can help improve digestion and elimination and reduce harmful bacteria which may contribute to poor digestion and inflammation. (5)

Kimchi can increase immunity

Lactic acid bacteria in kimchi can help modulate the immune system by changing the behaviour of our immune cells (namely NK cells, macrophages, the balance of Th1/Th2 cells, and the enhancement of Treg cells). It has been found to help alleviate allergies, asthma and atopic dermatitis in adults consuming three 40g servings per day. (2, 6)

By maintaining good gut health, kimchi can help fight bacterial and viral infections – after all, 70-80% of our immune system is in the gut.

Ingredients typically found in kimchi help boost the immune system and are considered functional foods: Garlic and ginger can lower inflammation and inhibit viruses; Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable known to be anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, full of vitamins (especially A, C, and K), supportive of liver detoxification, and linked to a decrease in colon cancer; Chilli and other hot peppers are anti-carcinogenic and have antioxidant effects. (8)

Kimchi can help prevent heart disease

Kimchi has lipid-lowering, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, which helps decrease the factors involved in the formation of atherosclerosis – a progressive condition which blocks the arteries and is the primary cause of coronary heart disease. (3)

Kimchi has anti-diabetic and anti-obesity benefits

Clinical studies have shown that kimchi decreases insulin resistance and increases insulin sensitivity, and improves glucose tolerance. (4) It is also low in calories.

 

How to eat kimchi

Kimchi can be eaten by itself, as a side dish, or used in recipes (9).

Korean Jackfruit Bowls

Servings: 3

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup brown rice (uncooked)
  • 1 ¾ cup canned jackfruit (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 ½ tbsp tamari
  • 1 tsp coconut sugar
  • ¼ tsp red chilli flakes
  • ¼ lime (juiced)
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 cucumber (diced)
  • 2 carrot (medium, grated or diced)
  • ½ cup kimchi
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 green onion (diced)

Method:

  1. Cook rice according to the directions on the package
  2. In a pan over medium heat, add the jackfruit, garlic, tamari, coconut sugar, chilli flakes and lime juice. Stir until well combined and use a wooden spatula to break up and shred the jackfruit. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the jackfruit is soft. Once it is done, add the sesame oil and remove from heat.
  3. Plate the rice, add the cucumber carrots, kimchi and jackfruit. Top with sesame seeds and diced green onion.

Vegan. Per servings: 344 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated), 71g carbs, 5g fibre, 6g sugar, 7g protein, 672mg sodium

Kimchi Fried Cauliflower Rice

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 head cauliflower (medium, broken into florets)
  • 1tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 cups kimchi (liquid drained off)
  • 2tbsp tamari
  • 1tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2tsp black pepper
  • 2tbsp sesame seeds
  • 2tsp sesame oil
  • 3 stalks green onion (chopped)
  • 1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
  • 4 eggs

Method:

  1. Using a food processor, process cauliflower florets into a rice-like consistency.
  2. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cauliflower rice, then sauté for 5 minutes. Add in the tamari, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, sesame seeds, sesame oil, green onion and green peas. Stir well to mix and sauté for another 2-4 minutes or until heated through. Reduce heat to lowest setting. Stir in the kimchi just before serving.
  3. In a separate pan, fry the eggs
  4. Divide the kimchi fried rice between bowls and top with a fried egg.

Vegetarian. (Omit egg or substitute tofu or tempeh to make vegan)

Per serving: 237 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated), 18g carbs, 7g fibre, 6g sugar, 14g protein, 1022mg sodium

 

Sources

  • Park, K.Y. and Kim, B.K. (2010). ‘Kimchi lactic acid bacteria and health benefits’, The FASEB Journal, 2 (S1).
  • Choi, H.J. Lee, N.K. and Paik, H.D. (2015). ‘Health benefits of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi, with respect to immunomodulatory effects’, Food Science Biotechnology, 24(3), pp. 783-789.
  • Kim, H.J., Noh, J.S. and Song, Y.O. (2018). ‘Beneficial effects of kimchi, a Korean fermented vegetable food, on pathophysiological factors related to atherosclerosis’, Journal of Medicinal Food, 21(2), pp. 127-135.
  • An, S.Y. Lee, M.S. Jeon, J.Y. et al. (2013). ‘Beneficial effects of fresh and fermented kimchi in prediabetic individuals’, Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 63, pp. 111-119.
  • Marco, M.L. Heeney, D. Binda, S. et al. (2017). ‘Health benefits of fermented foods: microbiota and beyond’, Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 44, pp. 94-102.
  • Kok, C.R. and Hutkins, R. (2018). ‘Yogurt and other fermented foods as sources of health-promoting bacteria’, Nutrition Reviews, 76(S1), pp. 4-15.
  • Park, K.Y. Jeong, J.K. Lee, Y.E. et al. (2014). ‘Health benefits of kimchi (Korean fermented vegetables) as a probiotic food’, Journal of Medicinal Food, 17(1), pp. 6-20.
  • The Francis Crick Institute (2018). ‘Chemicals found in vegetables prevent colon cancer in mice’, ScienceDaily.
  • Recipes: thatcleanlife.com