At the Korean Picnic, while standing in line to try Korean food, I had this conversation:

“Do you like Korean food?” A Korean woman asked me.

“Yes,” I said.

“Do you cook it at home?”

I’m sure I looked a little sheepish. “No,” I admitted. “I don’t cook much of anything at home,” I admitted. “I’m rather fond of restaurants.”

She gave me a knowing look and nodded. “Me too.”

So, when I read this article “Koreans' Kimchi Adulation, With a Side of Skepticism” from the LA Times, I thought of her. Here in black and white are more reasons that I should be putting on the apron and learning the fine points of Korean cooking. The scientists are studying kimchi.

Last month, scientists at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute unveiled a kimchi especially developed for astronauts to prevent them from getting constipated in space.

Okay, so when I first read that I laughed. I actually like kimchi, but I didn’t realize why. However, since my husband and my son make funny faces when they eat it – I’m having a hard time picturing it catching on with the whole aeronautic community.

A researcher at Ewha Woman's University in Seoul reported that kimchi lowered the stress levels of caged mice by 30%.

I could use a little less stress in my life. Kimchi here I come. Of course, I’m not a mouse and I’m not caged. Hmmm.

At the Kimchi Research Institute in Busan, hairless mice fed kimchi were reported to develop fewer wrinkles.

Look out plastic surgeons. Your high priced days could be numbered.

The beneficial power of kimchi comes from the lactic acid bacteria (also found in yogurt and other fermented foods) that helps in digestion and, according to some researchers, boosts immunity. In addition, the vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C and antioxidants, which are believed to protect cells from carcinogens. The high fiber content aids bowel function.

There is no doubting the benefits of kimchi to health. Whether it will cure all ills and prevent the spread of bird-flu…I’m still waiting to see.

Here are links to my past posts on kimchi:

Kimchi
Kimchi – Healthy Foods (04/03/06)