Some of you may be aware of South Korea’s first astronaut to be sent to space last year with kimchi on board the spacecraft.

Just a few days ago, kimchi was sent on another important mission – to a South Korean destroyed deployed to fend off Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. The 300 naval Koreans complained of ‘high prices and poor quality’ of the kimchi that is imported through a local port.

The Chief of Staff for the Korean Navy has promised a gift package of 1 ton of fresh, genuine, Korean-made kimchi to ‘boost morale’ of the miitary on board the destroyer – a month supply for the Korean servicemen on the ship (AFP). South Korean sailors were among the hostages that were held by Somali pirates for three months this past February (Javno). Korean ships and cargo have been subject to Somalian piracy, hence the recent Korean military efforts.

Yes, kimchi is that important in a Korean’s diet! Kimchi is used in traditional Korean dishes such as kimchi soup, or kimchi jigae, and is traditionally served as a side dish for almost every meal.

Kimchi side dish

Did you know that kimchi is a low-calorie cancer fighter, with 4x the valuable lactic acid bacteria of yogurt?

I recently visited the Kimchi Museum located at the COEX Mall in Seoul, South Korea.  I didn’t realize there was so much information about kimchi available.  Most of the information I have gathered below is from the museum.

6 Powerful Health Benefits of Kimchi

1) Kimchi contains lots of vitamin A and C, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Antioxidants in kimchi bolsters our immune system in addition to age-delaying and cancer prevention. At one point, kimchi was being considered as a possible cure or treatment for the Asian flu (although this has been disputed).

2) Kimchi is a low calorie food with lots of fiber in the vegetable ingredients. A particular element called “capsicine” in the red pepper of red kimchi helps weight control by burning fat.

3) Kimchi contains loads of lactobacilli(lactic acid bacteria) produced from the fermentation process. Lactobacilli cleans the intestines – helps prevent large intestine cancer.

4) Different agents present in kimchi also are proven to lower LDL-cholestrol.

5) In one part of the Kimchi Museum exhibit, they explain the “Efficacy of Lactobacilli in Kimchi.” Lactobacilli, or commonly known as ‘lactic acid bacteria,’ is a powerful micro-organism that helps our body fight off toxins. The same micro-organisms are found in yogurt and cheese from the fermentation process of producing such foods.  The sourness, which is also found in yogurts and cheeses can also be tasted in kimchi,  contributes to its unique flavor. It is during this fermentation process that harmful bacteria and micro-organisms die off, and health-preserving micro-organisms such as lactic acid bacteria are formed.

6) Kimchi has four times as much lactic acid bacteria as yogurt! Lactobacilli helps clean the colon, prevents other harmful bacteria from growth, prevents cancer cell growth.

Wanna live longer and healthier?

Eat kimchi!!!