The traditional way to make kimchi is to bury ceramic jars of salted cabbage underground, which sounds a bit of an effort. Thankfully, it’s easier to make now, but even so, it takes a lot of fine chopping action in the kitchen and weeks of fermenting. Luckily, you can buy restaurant-quality kimchi imported directly from Korea, in a handy pouch through Kelly Loves. Phew!
What are the health benefits of kimchi?
Low in calories, high in nutrients
There are so many different varieties of kimchi, that the amount of nutrients in the kimchi will vary. But there’s no doubt that kimchi is simply supercharged with nutrients. It’s sure to contain:
✔ Vitamin B6
✔ Vitamin C
✔ Vitamin K
✔ Folate
✔ Iron
✔ Niacin
✔ Riboflavin
As kimchi contains green vegetables such as cabbage, spinach and celery, it’s usually high in vitamin K which helps to make proteins that are needed to build bones and for blood clotting. Kimchi green vegetables also contain riboflavin, which helps regulate metabolism, cellular growth and energy production. And for a nutritious helping hand, the actual fermentation process may cultivate even more nutrients that are more easily absorbed by your body.
Improves digestive health
Kimchi contains lactobacilli bacteria, a ‘good bacteria’ or probiotic which helps to improve digestive health. These probiotics can help to manage the symptoms of colon inflammation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But even if you don’t have any digestive health problems, probiotics will support a healthy gut flora and this serves to improve your general health.
Supports your immune system
A lot of immune system function takes place in the gut, so the probiotics in kimchi are beneficial for your immune system, as well as your digestive system. When you have a good balance of bacteria, your immune system will function at its best. The vitamin C content in kimchi will also boost your immune response.
May reduce inflammation
Another potential benefit of the probiotics and active compounds such as HDMPPA in kimchi is that they may play a large part in helping to reduce inflammation. There have been many studies proving this with mice, but there needs to be more human studies.
May boost your heart health
Studies have found that kimchi may boost your heart health due to its anti-inflammatory properties and the possibility that it decreases cholesterol levels and suppresses fat growth, but there needs to be more research to back this up further.
Is it safe for everyone to eat kimchi?
Kimchi is safe to eat, unless you have specific food intolerances. Some people find they are sensitive to ingredients like garlic, chilli powder or onion. However, one safety issue that kimchi has been linked to in the past is food poisoning, namely E. coli and norovirus. If you ensure that you purchase your kimchi from a reputable source and make sure that you store the kimchi as per the instruction or freeze kimchi properly, then any risk will be minimised. Kelly Loves kimchi is used by our chefs and is restaurant-quality. It is sold in plastic pouches to better protect the flavour and nutrients ensuring that it remains the highest quality.
The health benefits of kimchi are plentiful; a true Korean superfood. Kimchi has become uber-cool in the UK due to an increasing interest to eat foods that look after our health. Eating kimchi is an easy way to support your gut health and immunity and up your intake of delicious vegetables. Plus, it’s low-calorie, so it can add a welcome hit of spice and umami when you are looking for something both guilt-free and flavoursome.
Whether it’s straight from the pouch alongside plain rice, with some udon or fried rice, tasty kimchi ramen noodles, in a dip, in a stew, stirred into some tofu miso soup…even on top of your burger as a BBQ condiment — you can find a fun way to eat your kimchi! Or perhaps you sneak it onto a spoon if you like a spicy hit when you are exploring the fridge for the millionth time (we see you). Anything goes. Warning: if you haven’t tried kimchi before, you might just get hooked!
FAQs
Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish that can add a spicy, tangy kick to your meals. Although it can be high in sodium, it also serves up the good-for-you probiotics, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help your body ward off illness and stay healthy. If you haven't already, give kimchi a try!
How healthy is Korean kimchi? ›
Along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, kimchi contains natural probiotic bacteria. If you eat them regularly, the probiotics in fermented foods can be beneficial to your gut microbiome. Studies suggest that eating kimchi on a daily basis could help to improve some digestive problems.
Is it healthy to eat kimchi every day? ›
A study published Tuesday in South Korea found that people who ate moderate amounts of kimchi daily are at a lower risk for developing obesity, with different types of kimchi being associated with staving off different forms of obesity.
Is store-bought kimchi healthy? ›
Kimchi has an excellent nutritional profile. The dish is low in calories but packed with nutrients like iron, folate, and vitamins B6 and K.
Is kimchi still healthy if you cook it? ›
But heating kimchi kills the healthy, helpful bacteria that are a product of the fermentation process. So if you are using kimchi in a recipe that requires cooking, be sure to serve a little extra raw on the side to maintain the benefits of the live cultures for your health (there are many!).
Does kimchi burn belly fat? ›
That saucy cabbage we know as kimchi may help you in your weight loss journey with a new study in BMJ Open suggesting that three servings of it in a day is linked to a lower rate of obesity, particularly abdominal or belly fat.
Is kimchi better than pickles? ›
Kimchi is also rich in probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help to improve digestion and boost the immune system. Pickles, on the other hand, are a good source of antioxidants, which help to protect the body against damage from free radicals.
When should you not eat kimchi? ›
Kimchi spoilage and over-fermentation
It will continue to ferment at a cool temperature. If kimchi over-ferments, it will have a very vinegary odor and taste. It is not pleasant to eat raw, so it is often used for soups and stews. If any fermentation gets soft and slimy, then it is a sign of spoilage.
How long does kimchi last in the fridge? ›
If you have store-bought kimchi that's been opened, it will be good for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to 6 months when refrigerated. Signs of your kimchi going bad include mold growth, an alcoholic smell, and an extremely sour taste.
What time of day should I eat kimchi? ›
As far as timing? It's most optimal to eat enzyme rich fermented food at the beginning of the meal, so they can begin the work of helping digestion as soon as they land in the stomach.
Great For Your Skin And Anti-Ageing
Kimchi is high in vitamin C, which is responsible for collagen production. This protein keeps the skin youthful, maintains its firmness, reduces wrinkles, and slows the ageing process.
What is the difference between sauerkraut and kimchi? ›
Vegetables: You can make kimchi in many different ways, whereas sauerkraut has more defined limits. Baechu-kimchi is the closest to sauerkraut in that it has a simple cabbage base without any additional veggies. Sauerkraut is always cabbage, whereas kimchi can encompass a panoply of fermented vegetables.
Does kimchi help with bloating? ›
Kimchi. Kimchi is a delicious, crunchy, tangy, and spicy Korean cuisine made of seasoned, salted, and fermented Napa cabbage and Korean radish. Due to fermentation, Kimchi comes loaded with friendly bacteria and probiotics that aid digestion, reduce belly bloating, and help flatten the tummy.
Is kimchi in a jar good for you? ›
Benefits of kimchi may include:
Support gut health. Improve nutritional value. Support heart health. Help blood sugar management.
Can too much kimchi be bad for you? ›
However, there were a couple of downsides to eating too much kimchi, her team added. First, the popular side dish contains a lot of salt, which is never great for health. Secondly, beyond the one-to-three servings per day that did show a benefit, eating more kimchi was linked with obesity overall, the study found.
Can you eat kimchi straight from the jar? ›
Though it is delicious eaten right from the jar — or as part of a banchan spread — kimchi is also a versatile ingredient to include in other recipes, from savory pancakes to standout burgers.
Does kimchi count as processed food? ›
Examples include yoghurt, cheese, kefir, kombucha, wine, beer, sauerkraut and kimchi. As a result of fermentation, the food becomes acidic, extending its shelf life (food-spoilage microbes are less likely to grow under these conditions). This makes fermentation one of the earliest forms of food processing.
Is kimchi a probiotic or prebiotic? ›
Accordingly, kimchi can be considered a vegetable probiotic food that contributes health benefits in a similar manner as yogurt as a dairy probiotic food.
Is kimchi a detox? ›
Research shows that the multiple strains of bacteria (such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillis brevis, and Lactobacillis plantarum) found in kimchi and sauerkraut, along with nutrients in cabbage are highly effective in helping the body detox from pesticides and other toxins.
