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.
HAHAHA. I'm a proud Korean, right now. Total cultural pride. Our staple kimchi cures the flu, Newcastle disease, bronchitis, and cured Sars.
Ah yes, South Korea, the land of other such medical brilliance as an electric fan killing people by sucking away their breath. Forgive me for being skeptical at 13 chickens
On May 31 2009 14:44 psion0011 wrote: Ah yes, South Korea, the land of other such medical brilliance as an electric fan killing people by sucking away their breath. Forgive me for being skeptical at 13 chickens
- lol as if enough people didn't eat Kimchi already, talk about marketing! - you would think if this were true S.Korea would have a smaller incidence of flu deaths in the world.. (mind you, could argue it works only in chickens; in that case, eureka for chickens!)
- I'd rather take such news with a good dose of skepticism; after all, and while we are quoting the bbc, we really don't want this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4763973.stm happening again, no? - having said all that, as one whose forefathers ate healthy amounts of sauerkraut, I must admit to our Korean brothers, Kimchi is indeed a superior food : )
One study conducted by Seoul National University claimed that chickens infected with the H5N1 virus, also called avian flu, recovered after eating food containing the same bacteria found in kimchi. However, the veracity of these results has been question due to the very small sample size of only a handful of chickens and the fact that no subsequent research supported the claims. During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia, many people even believed that kimchi could protect against infection, although there was no scientific evidence to support this belief.
Edit: Really? An article from "Last Updated: Monday, 14 March, 2005" ._.
On May 31 2009 14:58 mahnini wrote: this story has like 0 context. what's the death rate among chickens with bird flu? and 13 chickens isn't even close to a large enough sample size.
exactly. I wish people would apply this to map statistics in SC too.
However, there could as well be something in kimchi that boosts your immune system or something. It's not that outlandish after all
On May 31 2009 15:22 BalliSLife wrote: I heard kimchi prevents certain types of cancers too and also raw garlic if you're man enough to eat it
You should try* pickled garlic, raw garlic cleans your system but its almost too painful to eat it.
I believe i read somewhere Eleanor Roosevelt ate 3 chocolate-covered balls of garlic every day...I can only imagine its for that reason. (she lived until she was 78...not too bad considering the era, and the fact that she was struck by a car later in her life)
On May 31 2009 14:44 psion0011 wrote: Ah yes, South Korea, the land of other such medical brilliance as an electric fan killing people by sucking away their breath. Forgive me for being skeptical at 13 chickens
That's 13 chickens that didn't die.
...So that they may live long and healthy for another week until they're slaughtered for food.
the sad part about a lot of the "modern" asia... aka Korea and China and to a lesser extent Japan, is that a lot of them are so overworked they don't have time to form their own opinions about things. They simply have to depend on their media to tell them the truth. The media in those countries carry a lot more weight than they do here. Not as to say America is a strongarm and full of educated citizens, but I think asian culture just seems to have a lot more trust in their media.
I mean, does anyone here go to UW? Did you see all those asian kids walking around with masks on when that happened? There were also some older chinese women who I saw walking in solitude with masks on during that time when Swine Flu was on the brain.
EDIT: I don't want this to sound racist at all, but maybe I might be have tincy wincy point?
I eat kimchi everyday pretty much with almost every meal. The only physical problem with me is that no matter how much I eat I don't seem to gain weight. With that aside I'm about 175 cm tall and weigh around 130 lbs. I've never been sick once in my entire life (not counting like small coughs and runny noses you get for like a day) and it's because of .... KIMCHI!!!
On May 31 2009 16:51 kOre wrote: I eat kimchi everyday pretty much with almost every meal. The only physical problem with me is that no matter how much I eat I don't seem to gain weight. With that aside I'm about 175 cm tall and weigh around 130 lbs. I've never been sick once in my entire life (not counting like small coughs and runny noses you get for like a day) and it's because of .... KIMCHI!!!
On May 31 2009 14:44 psion0011 wrote: Ah yes, South Korea, the land of other such medical brilliance as an electric fan killing people by sucking away their breath. Forgive me for being skeptical at 13 chickens
That's 13 chickens that didn't die.
...So that they may live long and healthy for another week until they're slaughtered for food.
Better that they feed me than die of flu and get their corpses burned. (:
Lol my mother's been using this as an excuse to make me eat more kimchi at home.. kinda sick of it, eating it for 18 years straight. every day. twice a day :V
But it HAS been connected to the large amount of bowel cancers in South Korea. So I guess it should be used in moderation, not like 3 times a day and crazy stuff like that...
On May 31 2009 21:34 Psychobabas wrote: Kimchi is good stuff I think.
But it HAS been connected to the large amount of bowel cancers in South Korea. So I guess it should be used in moderation, not like 3 times a day and crazy stuff like that...
On May 31 2009 21:34 Psychobabas wrote: Kimchi is good stuff I think.
But it HAS been connected to the large amount of bowel cancers in South Korea. So I guess it should be used in moderation, not like 3 times a day and crazy stuff like that...
ahaha... ahah
aha AHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
i wonder where the op's pride is now.
probably with his bowel cancer.
No, no, no, Psychobabas got it wrong. Kimchi cures bowel cancer.
On May 31 2009 21:34 Psychobabas wrote: Kimchi is good stuff I think.
But it HAS been connected to the large amount of bowel cancers in South Korea. So I guess it should be used in moderation, not like 3 times a day and crazy stuff like that...
ahaha... ahah
aha AHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
i wonder where the op's pride is now.
probably with his bowel cancer.
No, no, no, Psychobabas got it wrong. Kimchi cures bowel cancer.
Actually, I read that kimchi does lead to bowel cancer not because it is kimchi but because of the high salt concentrations some brands have. The lower-sodium kimchis do not have a link to bowel cancer.
Kimchi itself was not what was tested-it was a bacteria that is found in kimchi, most likely Lactobacillus Kimchi. Personally, I think it'd be a fascinating and relatively easy topic to perform research on.
On May 31 2009 16:51 ToSs.Bag wrote: I mean, does anyone here go to UW? Did you see all those asian kids walking around with masks on when that happened? There were also some older chinese women who I saw walking in solitude with masks on during that time when Swine Flu was on the brain.
EDIT: I don't want this to sound racist at all, but maybe I might be have tincy wincy point?
You're absolutely right. How ridiculous of them to take simple measures to prevent infection during a possible flu epidemic, instead of using their common sense and assuming they're invulnerable to disease. Those wacky asians are such sheep to the media.
On May 31 2009 16:51 kOre wrote: I eat kimchi everyday pretty much with almost every meal. The only physical problem with me is that no matter how much I eat I don't seem to gain weight. With that aside I'm about 175 cm tall and weigh around 130 lbs. I've never been sick once in my entire life (not counting like small coughs and runny noses you get for like a day) and it's because of .... KIMCHI!!!
I think kimchi in moderation can be quite nice (I prefer it cooked however.) We have 2 different types served regularly where I work - red and white. The white kimchi is particularly yummy. I think my favourite part of Korean meals is often the side dishes. I've heard a lot of people here talking about the different health benefits of eating a domestic diet - the only thing I try to stay away from is large quantities of white rice.
On June 01 2009 11:56 HonestTea wrote: There comes a point in every Korean's life, when you reach a certain age, and no matter what you're eating, you think to yourself
"wow this meal is awesome, all it needs is kimchi."
"you know what would really pull this meal together? Kimchi"
"man, if I only had some kimchi..."
"aw god this food sucks. I could finish it though if I had some kimchi"
"I can't believe they're not serving kimchi with this!"
and on and on we go.
That's when you know you're getting old.
And to prove how correct HonestTea is ...
At 0:44 seconds - "I cant stand the thought of not having anymore kimchi" Video was taken in Germany where a Bboy crew called "Gamblers Crew" went to Germany for the Battle of the Year. From the previous year and tasting the food Germany offered the entire crew packed a weeks worth of a Korean meal ... KIMCHI INCLUDED!!!!
EPT
