Kimchi: Small Yet Mighty

It seems every year there is a new “superfood” that we are forced to acknowledge.  It is typically something small and has healing powers beyond our wildest dreams.  Goji berries, seaweed, flax seeds, all ingredients you’ll likely find as an “add on” option at your local juice shop.  Granted, these foods have benefits (apparently goji berries enhance eye health), but there is another “superfood” to acknowledge that you won’t find when ordering your next acai bowl.

Kimchi, traditionally a mixture of salted fermented vegetables, has been a nutrient dense staple in Korean diets for quite some time, and for good reason.  Kimchi has a plethora of benefits that help men (along with exercise) live a long healthy life when eaten regularly.  Why are we talking about it now?  Because now more than ever Kimchi has become increasingly accessible and can be found at both foreign specialty and commercial grocery stores. 

The main benefit of Kimchi is that it is a source for probiotics, which are live microorganisms with a variety of preventative health benefits.  The fermentation process of Kimchi fosters an environment for probiotics to grow, with benefits that could help in prevention of the following: constipation, common cold, heart health, mental health, and certain skin conditions. These benefits are good for anyone, but specifically for men, including a probiotic such as kimchi in their diet helps reduce inflammation of the prostate, which is something every man should consider taking care of sooner rather than later.

How do you eat Kimchi?  Don’t make it too difficult, grab a scoop out of the jar and eat it on its own or add it to your salad or other preferred dish.  I prefer mine spread over a bowl of sauteed rice with a couple of fried eggs.   Enjoy!