Kyuhyun, showing himself eating 'this food' all three meals... Turns out it's a calorie bomb, if you know.

 

High-calorie, high-carbohydrate, and high-sodium tteokbokki

Tteokbokki has high calories, carbohydrate, and sodium content. According to data from the Korea Food & Drug Administration, the calorie content of Tteokbokki is 304 kcal per 200g (one serving), with carbohydrate content exceeding 60g, accounting for about 80% of the calories. Therefore, the nutritional balance is not very good. The sodium content is an average of 853.08mg per serving, which is high considering the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily sodium intake of 2000mg. Excessive sodium intake can lead to stroke, hypertension, gastrointestinal diseases, and osteoporosis.

When feeling depressed, there are times when you crave spicy tteokbokki. This is believed to be due to hormonal changes, as a deficiency in serotonin, commonly called the happiness hormone, can cause feelings of anxiety and depression. The capsaicin in spicy tteokbokki stimulates the secretion of endorphins, hormones that improve mood. At this time, the body's heat is expelled along with sweat. Therefore, eating spicy tteokbokki temporarily improves mood, and as the heat subsides, it feels like stress is relieved. However, tteokbokki is a highly processed food, which can actually increase feelings of depression. A research team at Florida Atlantic University in the United States analyzed the correlation between ultra-processed food intake and depression among 13,059 people aged 18 and older. The results showed that the group consuming 80% or more of their daily intake as ultra-processed foods had a 1.81 times higher risk of depression compared to the group consuming less than 20%. They also experienced anxiety symptoms 1.19 times more frequently.

How can you enjoy tteokbokki in a light and healthy way? One way is to use tteok made from konjac instead of traditional rice or wheat flour. According to the Food Safety Korea, konjac-based tteok contains 170 kcal per 100 grams. Its carbohydrate content is also 32 grams, which is 15.8 grams lower than regular tteok, helping to reduce concerns about weight gain. When making tteokbokki, adding vegetables rich in potassium such as cabbage, mushrooms, and zucchini can help with sodium excretion. Pairing it with cool milk is also effective in reducing the spiciness of tteokbokki. The protein in milk helps break down capsaicin, and the cool temperature helps mellow the spicy flavor.