Why Food is Medicine in Korea
The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ is taken quite literally in the culinary world of Korea. Due to the inherent nature of Korea’s past, the relationship between Koreans and the meals they consume is a powerful part of its identity. Not only does the importance of food hold roots in ancient history, but it also relates to the overall health and prosperity of the lives of Korean citizens.
We can trace the connection between food, medicine, and health back to 300 B.C., a time when Korea was greatly influenced by Chinese culture. Originating from Taoist ideals, the belief that all health stems from what is consumed influenced the way Koreans organized their meals. The ancient Chinese philosophy stated that harmony must be at equilibrium between five elements: wood, fire, metal, earth, and water. These elements, when used in cooking, represent the different flavors that meals can have. The desire to maintain a harmonious balance of yin and yang resulted in food being cooked correspondingly.
Besides the philosophical aspect of food being healing to the body, Koreans also discovered the benefits of food in combating disease and sickness. The most notable example of this is ginseng which is used as an antioxidant; not only does it boost energy, it sharpens the brain’s function and allows for a stronger mental state. Ginseng has also been linked to improving gut health and respiratory health. Another important aspect of Korean dishes is fermentation in which the process creates healthy acids and enzymes that further fortify the immune system. Most famously, kimchi is a fertilized cabbage dish that holds countless intestinal benefits. Utilizing food to improve health can be traced back to the old belief that food and medicine came from the same source, therefore directly connecting food to the benefits that medicine holds.
Understanding Korea’s classic diet allows us to understand why Korea is considered such a healthy country. The obesity rate is significantly lower when compared to other countries with similar development rates. Due to the low-calorie, high-nutrient diet of Koreans, they tend to stay slimmer with a lesser chance of being overweight or obese. Food consumption is the least common factor that may cause health problems. Koreans also tend to worry about their physical appearance to a great extent, so maintaining a healthy diet ensures that they stay fit and lithe for much of their life.
Since the basis of their diet is balanced and nutritional, not only does it promote physical health, but it can also benefit mental health too as the body is being properly nurtured. The absence of overly processed food and the abundance of natural probiotics and vitamins in the Korean diet directly correlates with a brighter mind and a smaller chance of depression. Since the food ingested contains beneficial bacteria, not only do nutrients absorb better into the bloodstream, but serotonin production in the gastrointestinal tract is aided.
Food as medicine has been and will continue to be a crucial part of Korea’s culture. Not only does it prove that a healthy diet means a healthy body, but it also emphasizes the cruciality of receiving the proper nutrients in order for the human body to function properly. The long-lasting belief of medicinal benefits being linked to food consumption will grow stronger as Korea’s dietary habits continue to enrich health--both mental and physical.
Sources
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626
https://journalofethnicfoods.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42779-019-0003-9
