What’s in the Kpop Diet?

They say “you are what you eat”. We’re not saying you will turn into a cheeseburger if you eat one, however nutritionally poor foods will not offer you many benefits and it surely won’t bring you much closer to your health goals. By that, we mean a healthy body, a healthy mind, and healthy skin, as Koreans would call it; Glass Skin.

So, let’s talk about the staple foods that make up the K-Pop Diet; Kimchi is probably the most widely known Korean dish, it is a condiment paired with 99% of Korean meals. It is packed with selenium, an anti-aging antioxidant that protects the skin from sun rays. Although Kimchi is the most commonly known K-Food, there are many other fermented foods that weigh heavy in nutritional value that offer benefits to the skin. Hence, they consume fermented foods and apply fermented ingredients to the skin, this way getting double action nutritional benefits from the inside out. That alone tells you that Koreans have skincare down to the T, as it is blatantly incorporated into their everyday diet.

Seaweed on its own is a superfood that is rich in antioxidants, calcium, and iodine. Koreans drink seaweed tea on occasions where childbirth is celebrated. As a way to manifest healthy living, it is served on birthdays, baby showers, or mothers day. More, Koreans consume large amounts of Soybean soup, at almost every meal; the soup is an overall promotion of healthy living as it provides anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce the risk of heart diseases. Soybean soup also contains Vitamin E and antioxidants that promote a smoother texture on your skin.

Korean women also drink Bori Cha (Barley Tea) in copious amounts which improve the blood circulation of the skin. And last but not least, Makgeolli which is actually Fermented Rice Wine. Wine is consumed during Leisure time, which is extremely rich in Vitamin B and Amino acids which brightens the skin’s complexion and contributes to an even skin tone. See, even when it’s time to relax and enjoy life Koreans are still thoughtful about what they put into their bodies.

As we know that good skin care can not only be achieved through a healthy diet as there are skin concerns that need topical treatment. However, what you put into your body plays a significant role in leading a healthy lifestyle which just so happens to be taking care of your body, hence your skin. In conclusion, healthy skin is not only about what you put on your body, but also about what you put inside it. Therefore, you are what you eat and the Korean Lifestyle sets a fine example of taking care of your body from the inside out.