“Winter Natural Medicine” What is the ‘food’ Kim Jinkyung eats instead of carbohydrates?

Model Kim Jinkyung has pointed out root vegetables as a health management method for winter.

Recently, Kim Jinkyung revealed herself eating a salad made from root vegetables on her YouTube channel. Kim Jinkyung said, “I heard that we should eat a lot of root vegetables in winter,” and added, “They are a natural medicine excellent for winter health management and are rich in nutrients.”

Kim Jinkyung recommended sweet potatoes, potatoes, and lotus roots as root vegetables that can be consumed instead of carbohydrates. She mentioned, “It’s important to eat carbohydrates healthily as well.” Let’s take a look at the root vegetables introduced by Kim Jinkyung.

Root vegetables that absorb energy from the ground

Vegetables are broadly classified into root vegetables, stem vegetables, leaf vegetables, fruit vegetables, and flower vegetables. Among them, root vegetables are rich in various nutrients as they grow by absorbing energy from the ground. Root vegetables that grow in winter store nutrients and moisture in their roots to survive in cold and harsh environments. This is why winter seasonal root vegetables are called ‘natural medicine,’ as Kim Jinkyung mentioned.

The sweet potatoes, potatoes, and lotus roots she introduced are representative root vegetables of winter. Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and dietary fiber, so even a small amount can keep you feeling full for a long time. They promote intestinal movement and help with bowel activities. Sweet potatoes are also rich in beta-carotene, which inhibits aging, and potassium, which helps with sodium excretion. Sweet potatoes, which are good for health in many ways, can be steamed or baked and enjoyed in various dishes such as soups, salads, and lattes.

The phenolic acid content in sweet potatoes is also noteworthy. Phenolic acid is a component that slows down damage and aging in the body and has effects such as inhibiting carcinogens. Among the 34 varieties of sweet potatoes developed by the National Institute of Crop Science, phenolic acid derivatives are included. The purple sweet potato ‘Shinjami’ contains 83.8mg of phenolic acid per 100g, the chestnut sweet potato ‘Jinhongmi’ contains 26.3mg, and the pumpkin sweet potato ‘Juhwangmi’ contains 12.7mg.

Potatoes beneficial for reducing inflammation

Potatoes are a common ingredient on the dining table. Although they are often overlooked by dieters because they are carbohydrate foods, potatoes are rich in vitamin C and magnesium. Eating potatoes boiled or baked with the skin on, rather than frying them, is beneficial for weight loss. Our body converts some of the starch into short-chain fatty acids, which helps maintain intestinal health and prevents obesity and colon cancer.

Potatoes also have an effect of reducing inflammation. According to the journal of the East Asian Dietetic Association, the ethanol component extracted from potatoes showed excellent antioxidant activity in reducing inflammation. In particular, the starch in potatoes helps alleviate gastritis caused by excessive gastric acid secretion.

Lotus root rich in vitamin C

The lotus root, which is the underground stem of the lotus flower, is also called a treasure in the mud. Lotus root contains a significant amount of vitamin C, comparable to lemon juice, making it excellent for fatigue recovery. It is also rich in iron, preventing anemia. The tannin component in lotus root has excellent hemostatic effects, preventing bleeding from gastric ulcers, tuberculosis, and nosebleeds.

Lotus root can be eaten raw or lightly blanched for a crunchy texture. When cooked or fried, it can be enjoyed with a chewy texture. However, lotus root easily browns when exposed to air, so it is best to peel it and immediately blanch it in vinegar water or soak it for refrigeration.

In addition, winter root vegetables include radishes and burdock. Winter radishes are firm and solid, and they taste so good that they can be eaten raw. Radishes are rich in diastase and amylase, which promote the digestion of carbohydrates and meat. Burdock is rich in inulin, a type of soluble dietary fiber. Inulin provides a feeling of fullness and reduces appetite, aiding in weight loss.