Experts say the dish can lower your risk of obesity
According to a doctor, if you have at least one serving of kimchi per day, you could lower your risk of obesity and lose weight. As reported by BMJ Open, not only will it help aid in your weight loss journey, but radish kimchi is also said to be “linked to lower prevalence of midriff bulge in both men and women.”
The medical experts state that the obesity risk in men can reduce if they eat “up to three daily servings of the Korean classic”. For those not in the know, kimchi is made by salting and fermenting vegetables with various flavourings and seasonings, such as onion, garlic, and fish sauce.
Cabbage and radish are usually the main vegetables used in kimchi and it has many great benefits. Not only does it taste good, it can be added to a variety of dishes. Both veggies contain few calories and are rich in dietary fibre as well as its microbiome enhancing lactic acid bacteria, vitamins, and polyphenols.
The explains explain the recent findings, saying: “Previously published experimental studies have shown that Lactobacillus brevis and L. plantarum isolated from kimchi had an anti-obesity effect and researchers wanted to know if regular consumption might be associated with a reduction in the risk of overall and/or abdominal obesity, which is considered to be particularly harmful to health.”
Drawing on data from 115,726 participants – 36,756 of which were men and 78,970 women – the average age was 51. As part of the Health Examinees (HEXA) study, they looked into dietary intake for the previous year which “was assessed using a validated 106-item food frequency questionnaire for which participants were asked to state how often they ate a serving of each foodstuff, from never or seldom, up to 3 times a day.”
When it came to consuming the food – which you can pick up for around £2 at some supermarkets such as Asda and Aldi – the experts stated: “Compared with those who ate less than 1 daily serving of total kimchi, participants who ate 5 or more servings weighed more, had a larger waist size, and were more likely to be obese. They were also more likely to not be highly educated, have a low income, and to drink alcohol.”
Accounting for “potentially influential factors, eating up to 3 daily servings of total kimchi was associated with an 11% lower prevalence of obesity compared with less than 1 daily serving. In men, 3 or more daily servings of baechu kimchi were associated with a 10% lower prevalence of obesity and a 10% lower prevalence of abdominal obesity compared with less than 1 daily serving.”
When it came to the women, “2–3 daily servings of this type of kimchi were associated with an 8% lower prevalence of obesity, while 1–2 servings/day were associated with a 6% lower prevalence of abdominal obesity.”
The findings did note that there may be concerns that kimchi contains salt and as we know, high quantities of salt is not good for our health. However the potassium found in the fermented vegetables may help to counteract this, they say. They caution: “Since all results observed a ‘J-shaped’ association, excessive consumption suggests the potential for an increase in obesity prevalence. And as kimchi is one of the major sources of sodium intake, a moderate amount should be recommended for the health benefits of its other components.”
