Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Finishy!]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4347443.stm



Korean dish 'may cure bird flu'
By David Chazan
BBC News

Korean woman make huge batches of kimchi
Kimchi is a traditional staple of Korean cuisine
South Korea's spicy fermented cabbage dish, kimchi, could help to cure bird flu, according to researchers.

Scientists at Seoul National University say they fed an extract of kimchi to 13 infected chickens - and a week later 11 of them had started recovering.

The researchers said the results were far from scientifically proven and if kimchi did have the effects they observed, it was unclear why.

South Koreans are reported to be eating more kimchi as a result of the study.

"I'm eating kimchi these days because I've heard in the media that it helps prevent bird flu infections," one man said.

Love it or loathe it, once you have eaten it, you will never forget it. Kimchi is made by fermenting cabbage with red peppers, radishes and a lot of garlic and ginger.

The idea that it could help poultry to fight off bird flu sounds like a dubious folk remedy.

But the theory is being floated by some of Korea's most eminent scientists.

"We found that the chickens recovered from bird flu, Newcastle disease and bronchitis. The birds' death rate fell, they were livelier and their stools became normal," said Professor Kang Sa-ouk.

Sars link

There was an increase in kimchi consumption two years ago, when thousands of people in Asia contracted Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

Kimchi was reported to have helped to prevent Sars. The claim was never scientifically proven, but according to some Koreans, people in other countries followed their example and started eating kimchi.

"After the Sars outbreak, I went to China and I noticed that the Korean restaurants there sold most of the kimchi they'd made that day," a Korean man said.

So one of Korea's national specialities may soon find a much bigger market. Whether it really is an effective remedy, only time and more research will tell.

[Korussian]

Homer: Not a bear in sight. The "Bear Patrol" is working like a charm!
Lisa: That's specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: [uncomprehendingly] Thanks, honey.
Lisa: By your logic, I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Hmm. How does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work; it's just a stupid rock!
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: (pause) Lisa, I want to buy your rock.

[KOREAN_MAN]

[Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its �healthy bacteria� called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study. And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.]

http://eating.health.com/2008/02/01/worlds-healthiest-foods-kimchi-korea/


It does seem to have many health benefits. I don't know about "curing" any disease but maybe it is preventive.

[teachergirltoo]

I didn't know about the bacteria benefit, but naturalist doctors (naturopaths) frequently recommend cayenne pepper drinks (tea) to stave off sickness. And also, through the years I have known many older people that put cayenne in their food and drink, or eat a teaspoon of tobascco sauce everyday. Since kimchee is loaded with it I just thought that is why it would be helpful, not the fact that it is kimchee in itself. But the bacteria information is interesting because it is so expensive to buy acidopholus or probiotics here.

[eperdue4ad]

Garlic's probably good for health. Maybe the fermentation part of kimchi. Still, I still give a every time this issue comes up. Only in Korea would the media and scientists claim the national dish as a cure-all instead of attempting to isolate and locate the exact ingredient/process that causes kimchi to work its magic.

[tigercat]

Correlation equals causation.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

I don't care if it wards of piggy flu.

It gives you gut rot and awful diorreah (sp - I know.)

So I'll only be consuming it in tiny doses as usual. I love the taste but can't handle the 'runs.'

[Captain Corea]

The article is 4 years old.

[Howard Roark]

Three out of 5 students in one of my company classes said they honestly believed eating kimchi will prevent swine flu. When I asked them how they could possibly think that, they said there have been "scientific studies" reported on the news. And here I thought scientific studies took years or even decades. When was the first case of swine flu again? Korean scientists are truly amazing.