This food is said to be the most popular in Korea, helping to curb obesity.

Most delicious foods are bad for you, but kimchi is both appetizing and healthy. Research has shown that eating kimchi can improve gut microbiota, contributing to obesity prevention.

A joint research team from the World Institute of Kimchi and Pusan ​​National University College of Medicine tested the anti-obesity effects of kimchi on 90 adults aged 20 to 65. All participants were obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 23 kg/m2 or higher, and had no underlying medical conditions. The research team divided the participants into two groups: some consumed 3,000 mg of kimchi powder daily, while the others consumed lactose daily for 12 weeks. The lactose-fed group did not consume kimchi at all during the study period. The kimchi powder-fed group also did not consume any kimchi other than the powder.

The study results showed that the group that consumed kimchi powder had a higher proportion of Akkermansia muciniphila in their gut microbiome. Akkermansia muciniphila is known to improve fat metabolism and contribute to weight loss. Conversely, the proportion of Proteobacteria, which produce endotoxins that cause enteritis and intestinal leakage, decreased.

The group that consumed kimchi powder also saw a decrease in LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and an increase in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). The group that ate lactose and abstained from kimchi actually saw an increase in BMI and weight.

Harmful intestinal bacteria are known to negatively impact energy metabolism, lipid synthesis, and inflammatory metabolism, increasing the risk of obesity. Kimchi is rich in probiotics, helping maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

“These findings suggest that eating kimchi daily can help prevent obesity by regulating gut microbiota,” the research team said in the paper.

This paper was recently published in the international academic journal ‘Journal of Functional Foods’.