The Korean Health Secret: Nutritious Foods
How to Keep an Energetic Lifestyle
The Joseon-era medical text Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine) has the phrase, “Yaksikdongwon.” This phrase, meaning “food and medicine come from the same origin,” means that there is a profound impact of daily dietary habits on one's health. This idea also forms the basis of Korean Yakseon cuisine, focused on treatment and health-boosting foods with medicinal ingredients. In fact, one can easily find the idea of “Yaksikdongwon” in Korean cuisine, especially in foods made to aid recovery and enhance well-being during bad body condition.
Nutritious foods, known in Korean as “Boyangsik,” come from this perspective as well. During transitional seasons or in the midst of summer heat, which can play havoc with one’s immune system and stamina, Koreans turn to high-nutrient foods to maintain their health. Let's explore the nutritious foods that play a role in sustaining the vibrant daily life of Koreans.
Ginseng Chicken Soup, The Foremost Nutritious Food in Korea
Ginseng Chicken Soup, widely recognized globally, stands as a representative nourishing dish of Korea. During the sweltering “Boknal” days—Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok—when even dogs are said to seek relief from the heat by lying upside down, Koreans turn to Ginseng Chicken Soup. This cultural tradition aligns with the Korean principle of “Iyeolchiyeol,” treating heat with heat in traditional medicine, while the soup's high-calorie content aims to replenish energy levels drained by the oppressive heat. Chicken has been a favored ingredient of nutritious foods in Korea, often being enjoyed as a Whole Chicken Soup. Over time, the dish has been evolved with ginseng, jujube, and other ingredients, turning it into the Ginseng Chicken Soup we know and love today.
Ginseng Chicken Soup involves cleaning a whole chicken and stuffing it with ginseng, garlic, jujube, and sweet rice, then boiling it for an extended period. There are various sub-types of Ginseng Chicken Soup, depending on the ingredients used: Ginseng Chicken Soup with Medicinal Herbs, made with medicinal herbs such as milk vetch roots, giant angelica, and antler; Ginseng Chicken Soup with Seafood, made with abalone or octopus; and Ginseng Chicken Soup with Perilla Seeds, boiling the soup with perilla seeds. The nutritious broth, made with healthy ingredients and chicken, gives you a boost of energy and protein that can help you endure the heat. Ginseng Chicken Soup’s gentle flavor also makes it a popular dish internationally. That is why this dish often features on the list of foods recommended for international visitors to Korea.
