Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

I've been sick for 2 weeks now. I have no energy, and I've tried western remedies, and nothing is working (all I want to do is sleep, and my life isn't all that stressful...). So I figure I'll try some Korean remedies (eat stamina food, um, cuz, stamina= energy, right?). However, I can't stomach strange foods (e.g at a chamchi restaurant, the chef told my guy friend that fish eyes are good for stamina. I don't do eyeballs), so I need some ideas- please help!

Why do Koreans think some of these foods (e.g. eel) give you stamina? It's just general knowledge, perhaps? I wonder if any of these foods have been scientifically proven to be "super foods", if you will. Are they protein or carb packed, or what? My MIL gave my husband some ground black sesame powder, and told him it's good for stamina. I've considered trying it. Apparently you mix it with milk or yogurt.

[ilovebdt]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[holeinthesky]

Many Asian countries believe falsely in stamina food. Maybe some really are, but there is no truth to the idea that eating dog or eel or powdered deer antler will give you sexual or general stamina/energy ANY MORE than eating beef or chicken. They are just different forms of protein.
Its amazing how many Korean men think that eating dog meet will give them 'stamina' like that of a dog on heat.
In fact its ridiculous.

BTW, Periwinkle~ I recommend you try some other sources of nutrients in addition to as many vegetables as you can include in your diet. I eat loads of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Its unbelievable how many vitamins, nutrients, iron, protein etc etc is in these foods....(and all nuts). Just do a google search, they're basically magical food, like taking vitamin pills, but ones you know will work....
They're not cheap,...but you can find them at any Emart/Lotte World/Big mart store. A little every day and you're covering almost any potential deficiency.
Good luck^^

[bobbyhanlon]

haha yeah.. it seems like every kind of food in korea gives you stamina, if certain ajosshi-deul are to be believed. having said that, i was damn ill with the flu this week, probably the worst cold i ever had in my life.. started feeling better today, and went for some ����� (samgyetang.. chicken soup) and it made me feel almost human again. chicken is good for you, the broth is good for you, and its full of ginseng too, which i suppose is a good thing.
or you could always try ���ǿ�..

[Zyzyfer]

Eat some samgyaetang, perwinkle. It'll do you right.

Yes, Korea has lots of stamina foods, and yes, scientific studies have been conducted to "prove" that they really do work, and yes, they work about as well as eating a piece of bread or a steak. For instance, the only real difference between eel and steak (besides being seafood) is that it has those omega 3 fatty acids and some other vitamin that is supposed to help with blood circulation. This leads to men having insane stamina because the blood flows to the unit better. Ah, the stupid crap I learn on Korean TV.

RAWR! FEEL THE STAMINA! *pillages womenfolk*

[jazblanc77]

Women eat seaweed soup A LOT during and especially after being pregnant. In fact, they are supposed to eat it as their staple for 20 days after the delivery. I would recommend starting with this. Someone also mentionned ����� which is a stuffed chicken boiled in a ginseng broth. Very delicious and good for you!

When koreans are sick, they eat �� which is essentially rice porridge which a lot of good things thrown in for flavor and health.

If you are not averse it, you could try eating bosintang (dog soup).

You have probably seen those traditional remedy drinks in a packet that you can get at any pharmacy here. If you drink 2 per day, they might help.

Other than what is above, why not get some multivitamins and perhaps some B12 supplements (B12 gives you energy). Also, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, nuts/proteins, and anything with iron in it.... MMMmmm kimbab!

[RACETRAITOR]

[HapKi]

Dog meat fat is said to be water-soluble, along with duck meat. That is really the only reason I know to eat it, health wise.
Meat in general was considered for the wealthy in Korea of past, so there is still some of that mentality.
Multi-vitamins are just starting to hit the Korean market, so get some and you'll be one up on the Koreans already.
Bow-Yak, the black tonics in plactic envelopes made by han-wee-wons, works in my opinion. Expensive, though.

[kangnam mafioso]

i make smoothies. buy a blender of you don't have one already.

try this:

soy milk
some soft tofu
shot of pomagranite juice
2 shots fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons frozen or plain yogurt
1-2 bananas
teaspoon of honey
a little sugar
ice if you aren't using frozen yogurt

blend it all up .... delicious and cheap

mix it up with coconut milk, papaya or mango

take a vitamin B complex with it or the powder for a little extra kick.

enjoy!

[PaperTiger]

There's plenty of chinese medecine to be found in Korea and Koreans swear by it. Chinese medecine is expensive and it's a little hard to ignore the whole snakeoil voodoo element of "we've been doing this for thousands of years without ever asking WHY" thing.

Ginseng does something to your bloodflow that is supposed to aid stamina in general (not just men's). You can smell the shops that sell the ginseng brews and they have these strange glass brewing urns that they reduce the juice. It doesn't taste great, but it works well.

Vitamin B and royal jelly. B vitamins do something to energize you, I'm just not sure what. Royal jelly is also taken for stamina, both in and out of bed, and it works really nicely for both. Most yaguks have it in pill form or in glass vials on the counter. Sometimes the pills work really nicely, but they're decidedly expensive. I also used to be able to buy bee pollen at a whole food stores in Lansing, MI and that had a nice energizing effect....not especially usefull here in Korea....but along the same lines.

When I lived amongst the hippies of SE Michigan they were really into juicing and sprouting. One of the by-products of sprouting beans and seeds sometimes is the water you've soaked your beans or seeds in. The water is loaded with something bizarre-tasting and strangely energizing...my friends called it "rejuvelac". I tried it and it was a bizarre experience....I was a little buzzed even though the taste was a bit naff. Sprouting is becoming increasing popular here in Korea, incarnated as the "well-being" food trend. Sprouts are a pretty high quality souce of nutrition according to some people....and if you're into juicing then wheat grass is also good.

One other fad that might be worth checking into is algae or plankton stuff all the hippies were knockin back some time ago...if you can find a source of this stuff that has unbroken cell wallls or what not then I reckon it might do ya right. I'm pretty sure I saw it in Costco in a forest of glucosamine products.

Excercise?

Anything that might energize you might also aggravate any overt or hidden heart ailments (sorry, I watch "House" too much) so it might be a good idea to rule out any vascular problems or high blood pressure risks before you start goofing around with supplements. Are you vegan? Are you on a carb-free diet? You might wanna check into that anemia thing dude was talkin about...could be an iron-deficiency, hypoglycemia, low blood pressure....go see a doctor if you're that concerned and monkey around with your diet if the MD gives you the go ahead.

[jacl]

Drink green tea. "Green Time" is good. Cold green tea. It's an energy boost and it's good for you. I don't drink a ton of it, but I was having headaches recently. Not really bad ones. Just a sort of tinge in my temple. Maybe from bad eating patterns and a head cold. I had a bad soju hangover this week (don't drink much of that) and I drank some green tea and you can feel your head clear up quite noticeably.

I could've been getting the very minor, irritating pain from that cheap tube coffee mix, too. Gotta stop drinking that.

[inthewild]

Yea make sure you exercise enough. If I don't do it, I want to sleep for 12 hours. If I do, 7 hours sleep is sufficient most nights.