Piano Guidance
Photo by makafood Pexels Logo Photo: makafood

What is the Korean diet?

The traditional Korean diet is healthy. It's centered around vegetables, fermented foods like kimchi, soups, rice, and meat or seafood. Healthy Korean food choices include kimchi, seasoned or steamed vegetable side dishes, bibimbap, and konggusku, among many others. However, Korean food tends to be high in salt.

What is Yamaha PSR?
What is Yamaha PSR?

The Yamaha PSR-E323, also known as the YPT-320, is an electronic keyboard manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation in 2009. It is a basic home...

Read More »
What is the four chord trick?
What is the four chord trick?

The I–V–vi–IV progression is a common chord progression popular across several genres of music. It involves the I, V, vi, and IV chords of any...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Korean cuisine is characterized by plenty of vegetables, rice, and meat or fish. Meals are often served with a variety of small sides, broth-based soups, and fermented cabbage (kimchi). It’s generally considered healthy and known for incorporating many health-promoting ingredients like fermented foods. However, some dishes are not as nutritious as others. This article provides an overview of Korean food and how to make healthy choices when ordering at a restaurant or cooking at home. Share on Pinterest Alina/Stocksy United Intro to Korean food Korean culture emphasizes food as a source of nourishment and healing. Throughout its history, food has been seen as medicine ( 1 ). As a result, Korean cuisine is generally healthy. For example, a traditional Korean meal known as bapsang features rice (bap), several side dishes (banchan), soups or stew (kuk), fermented vegetables, and sometimes grilled meats or seafood (2). Many Korean side dishes include vegetables. These can be seasoned with fermented sauces and condiments like soybean paste (doenjang), soy sauce (ganjang), and hot pepper paste (gochujang) ( 1 ). Other common fermented foods include salted seafood (jeotgal) and cabbage. Kimchi can be seasoned in different ways, usually with salt, ginger, garlic, and/or red pepper flakes (gochugaru) ( 1 ). Besides fermentation, common cooking methods include blanching, boiling, pickling, and grilling. Baking and frying are less common, although some popular foods like Korean fried chicken are fried (2). Summary Korean meals typically feature seasoned vegetable sides, rice, soup, kimchi, and meat or seafood. Grilling, fermenting, boiling, pickling, and blanching are common cooking methods. Is Korean food healthy? Considering the ingredients and cooking methods of the traditional Korean diet, it’s generally considered healthy. Because they’re often high in vegetables and cooked without much oil, Korean meals are often lower in calories than traditional American meals (2, 3 ). One observational study associated eating a traditional Korean diet with a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increases your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke ( 3 ). What’s more, fermented foods — like those featured in Korean cuisine — offer health benefits thanks to their content of gut-friendly bacteria called probiotics ( 4 ). Kimchi, for example, is made via lacto-fermentation. This means it contains Lactobacillus bacteria. According to test-tube and animal studies, these bacteria may support your immune system ( 5 , 6 ). Older studies in humans also suggest that eating kimchi decreases body weight and risk factors for heart disease. Although the exact mechanisms are unknown, compounds in kimchi may help regulate weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood fat levels ( 7 , 8 ). Hot pepper paste and red pepper flakes are other common ingredients in Korean meals. The compound that makes these foods spicy is called capsaicin. It may support a healthy metabolism, blood pressure, and weight ( 9 , 10 ). Still, some aspects of Korean food may not be so healthy. First, pickled and fermented foods, Korean-style soups, and Korean condiments like BBQ sauces tend to be high in salt. Eating too much salt has been linked to high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart and kidney diseases ( 11 ). Second, Korean restaurants may serve their food family-style rather than plated as single serves. If you’re watching your weight, it can be hard to stick to appropriate portion sizes with this style of eating. Summary Most Korean food is healthy and full of nutritious foods like vegetables and kimchi. Still, some common foods can be high in salt, and it can be easy to overeat if meals are served family-style. Healthy Korean food choices Many Korean dishes are healthy. Here’s a list of some of the best options. Fermented cabbage. Reap the benefits of kimchi by eating this fermented cabbage seasoned with garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes with your meals.

Should piano keys be covered?
Should piano keys be covered?

Cover the Keys After Use If dirt and dust accumulate between your piano keys, it can cause the keys to stick. Covering the keys after every use...

Read More »
Can I learn guitar in 6 months?
Can I learn guitar in 6 months?

For someone who practices around 30 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week, with medium intensity, it'll take roughly 1-2 months to play beginner guitar...

Read More »

Reap the benefits of kimchi by eating this fermented cabbage seasoned with garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes with your meals. Korean rice bowl ( bibimbap ). Made with rice, vegetables, meat, and egg, this bowl is a balanced and nutritious meal. You can skip the meat or replace it with tofu if you follow a vegetarian diet. Made with rice, vegetables, meat, and egg, this bowl is a balanced and nutritious meal. You can skip the meat or replace it with tofu if you follow a vegetarian diet. Seaweed and rice rolls ( kimbap/gimbap ). These rolls resemble sushi and can be made with vegetables, meat, eggs, and/or fish, among many other variations. They make a good on-the-go meal or snack. These rolls resemble sushi and can be made with vegetables, meat, eggs, and/or fish, among many other variations. They make a good on-the-go meal or snack. Cold soy milk noodle soup ( konggusku ). This chilled noodle soup features wheat noodles in a soy milk broth. It’s often topped with cucumbers and tomatoes and makes a delicious, light meal. This chilled noodle soup features wheat noodles in a soy milk broth. It’s often topped with cucumbers and tomatoes and makes a delicious, light meal. Sliced beef with vegetables and rice ( bulgolgi) . This is one of the most popular Korean dishes. It’s high in protein and provides micronutrients, though it can be high in fat depending on the cut of meat that’s used. Add vegetable sides to round out your meal. This is one of the most popular Korean dishes. It’s high in protein and provides micronutrients, though it can be high in fat depending on the cut of meat that’s used. Add vegetable sides to round out your meal. Soft tofu stew ( soondubu jjigae ). Made with soft tofu, mushrooms and other vegetables, and sometimes meat, this spicy stew is a complete meal in one bowl. Made with soft tofu, mushrooms and other vegetables, and sometimes meat, this spicy stew is a complete meal in one bowl. Steamed, stir-fried, and seasoned vegetable dishes. Steamed eggplant, stir-fried zucchini, seasoned bean sprouts, and seasoned spinach are among the many healthy vegetable sides served in Korean cuisine. Summary Healthy Korean dishes incorporate lots of vegetables and at least one protein source. Kimchi is a healthy addition to meals. Korean dishes to limit If you’re trying to lose weight or have a health condition that you manage via your diet, you may want to be mindful of certain Korean dishes. For example, some meals are high in salt and/or calories. Korean fried chicken. Korean fried chicken is known for its thin, crunchy exterior that surrounds tender, juicy chicken. However, since it’s fried and often coated in a salty, sugary sauce, it’s not always the most nutritious choice. Korean fried chicken is known for its thin, crunchy exterior that surrounds tender, juicy chicken. However, since it’s fried and often coated in a salty, sugary sauce, it’s not always the most nutritious choice. Noodles in black bean sauce ( jajangmyeon ). Topped with a thick sauce made from black bean paste, pork, and vegetables, these noodles are a popular takeout dish in Korea. However, it’s typically high in calories from carbs and fat. Topped with a thick sauce made from black bean paste, pork, and vegetables, these noodles are a popular takeout dish in Korea. However, it’s typically high in calories from carbs and fat. Korean noodles (ramyun). This is the name for Korean instant noodles similar to Japanese ramen. They’re popular, and many people upgrade them with wholesome veggies and an egg. Still, they’re high in sodium, which some people may need to be mindful of. Summary Dishes that are high in fat, salt, or calories exist in every type of cuisine. These Korean meals are delicious but consider choosing them less often than other dishes.

Why do people call the Yazoo Delta line the yellow dog?
Why do people call the Yazoo Delta line the yellow dog?

Quick explanation, the “Southern” was the east-west rail line that crossed the “Yazoo-Delta” rail line at Moorhead. Yazoo-Delta picked up the name...

Read More »
Is it illegal to print sheet music of the Internet?
Is it illegal to print sheet music of the Internet?

It is illegal to download sheet music which is in copyright from the Internet unless this is through an authorized digital retailer.

Read More »

Tips for making healthy food choices When dining at a Korean restaurant If you’re eating at a Korean restaurant, consider choosing a meal from the above list of healthy foods. If you’re dining with a group and the food is served family-style, assess all the options before plating up. Aim to fill half your plate with vegetable side dishes, a quarter of your plate with a protein source, and add just a small portion of rice or noodles. Do your best to eat slowly and mindfully, and wait a little while before reaching for more food to see whether you’re still hungry. If you’re watching your weight, choose leaner proteins like legume- and soy-based options like tofu. Opt for seafood over fattier cuts of meat and avoid deep-fried foods. If you have diabetes or need to manage your blood sugar for other reasons, be careful not to load up on rice or noodles. There are usually plenty of delicious dishes with non-starchy vegetables to enjoy instead. Finally, limit the kimchi, pickled veggies, sauces, and high sodium soups if you’re watching your sodium intake. When cooking Korean food at home You can apply similar principles when trying to cook healthy Korean food at home. Look for recipes that have a balance of protein, fat, carbs, and non-starchy vegetables. Don’t go overboard on fatty meats or carb-heavy rice. When making recipes that call for fermented sauces or other condiments, be wary of the salt content. Add a small amount first, then give the dish a taste. Only then should you adjust the seasonings to avoid adding too much sodium. If you’re using beef or pork in a recipe but want to reduce the fat content, ask a butcher for a leaner cut. Alternatively, serve the dish with more veggies and a smaller portion of meat. Summary When eating at a Korean restaurant or cooking Korean food at home, be wary of the salt and fat content of meals, as well as your portion sizes.

Can you get good at piano in 1 year?
Can you get good at piano in 1 year?

It's absolutely true! Most students start piano lessons with no musical experience whatsoever, but by the end of one year they're playing music in...

Read More »
Why is C major so hard on guitar?
Why is C major so hard on guitar?

Why Is It So Hard? Let's kick off by understanding why the C major can be so hard to learn. The main reason is due to the stretch that all three...

Read More »
How many octaves did Elvis Presley have?
How many octaves did Elvis Presley have?

Elvis Presley was a baritone whose voice had an extraordinary compass — the so-called register — and a very wide range of vocal colour. It covered...

Read More »
Is it too late to learn to play the piano?
Is it too late to learn to play the piano?

Learning to play the piano as an adult can be intimidating. Many people limit themselves because they think they are too old or that it's too late...

Read More »