Korean Energy Boosters for Chobok: What’s Your Match?🌞

• Author: Dr. Lee Seung Hwan, Tong-In Clinic

• Editor : Sia

In Korea, there's a unique approach to staying healthy during the sweltering summer months.

It's called "Yi-Yeol-Chi-Yeol" (이열치열), which means "fighting heat with heat." This wisdom suggests countering a condition with similar means.

During summer, we sweat a lot, and frequent exposure to air conditioning can lead to "air conditioning sickness." High temperatures also increase the risk of foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning.

(If you haven't read The Pylon Club's articles on air conditioning sickness and food poisoning, be sure to check them out! 😉)

In these conditions, it's beneficial to warm your body with healthy foods and supplement your nutrition with high-protein meals.

Korea's 'Chobok' and 'Healthy Foods'

In summer, Korea observes three special days called 'Bok-nal (복날)'.

The first is called 'Cho-bok', the second 'Jung-bok', and the third 'Mal-bok'. We use the Chinese character 'Bok(복, 伏)', meaning "to lie down," suggesting the heat overcomes people.

This year, Chobok falls on July 20th.

There's usually a 20-day gap between Chobok and Malbok, with Chobok marking the start of intense summer heat. (Though it feels like it's been hot for a while already! 🪭)

On these 'Bok-nal' days, Koreans traditionally eat special health-boosting foods. The most representative dish is "Sam-gye-tang(삼계탕)."

📌Samgyetang: The Classic Korean Health Food for Chobok

Samgyetang is a soup made by slow-cooking a whole chicken with glutinous rice, garlic, jujube, ginseng, and various medicinal herbs.

This single bowl embodies the principles of Korean traditional medicine for boosting health.

• Dak (닭, chicken)
  Activates digestive function, suitable for anemia, fatigue, postpartum recovery, and growing children.

• In-sam (인삼, ginseng)
  Replenishes energy, relieves fatigue, and boosts immunity. Korean ginseng has been one of the most popular medicinal herbs worldwide for centuries.

• Dae-chu (대추, jujube)
  Aids digestion, relieves tension, and helps with insomnia.

• Ma-neul (마늘, garlic)
  Warms the body, reduces inflammation, and has detoxifying effects.

• Chap-ssal (찹쌀, glutinous rice)
  Warms the stomach and helps treat diarrhea caused by a cold or lower abdominal discomfort.

This harmoniously composed Samgyetang is especially beneficial for people with the following characteristics:

❄️Cold-sensitive Body Type☞ Tends to feel chilly easily❄️

1. Need a blanket even in midsummer.

2. Prefer lukewarm or hot water over cold water.

3. Don’t sweat easily; have difficulty sweating in saunas.

4. Often have cold hands, feet, or lower abdomen.

5. May get diarrhea after eating cold foods and are prone to indigestion.

📌Naengchae Jokbal: A Cool Food for Heat-Sensitive Types

If you don't fit the cold-sensitive body type, you might be a heat-sensitive type.

☀️Heat-sensitive Body Type ☞ Tends to feel hot easily☀️

1. Often kick off the blanket even in winter while sleeping.

2. Love ice water and can drink it in one go.

3. Sweat easily and feel refreshed after sweating.

4. Urine tends to be dark in color.

5. Prone to constipation.

If this sounds like you, you don't need to stick to hot soups in summer.

Instead, light and cool dishes might be more suitable for you.

For such people, I recommend "Naeng-chae Jok-bal(냉채 족발)" as a summer health food.

Naengchae Jokbal is a dish made with boiled pork feet, mixed with fresh vegetables and a tangy sauce.

• Jok-bal (족발, pork feet)
  Replenishes body fluids. Rich in collagen, good for skin health, and effective for arthritis.

• O-i (오이, cucumber)
  Reduces heat, detoxifies, and removes swelling.

• Sik-cho (식초, vinegar)
  Stimulates appetite, which often decreases in summer.

• Gyeo-ja (겨자, Mustard sauce)
  Unlike other cool ingredients, it has a warm nature. It balances the dish! Additionally, it has antibacterial properties, which help prevent food poisoning.

Naengchae Jokbal also includes onions, carrots, radish sprouts, and baby greens. It's visually appealing and provides a variety of vitamins and minerals!

***

Today's Conclusion-Choosing the right summer health food for you in 3 lines:

1. Cold-sensitive Body Type -> Sam-gye-tang

2. Heat-sensitive Body Type -> Naeng-chae Jok-bal

3. Not sure -> Try both :)

I'm curious about what foods other countries use to beat the summer heat!

Stay cool this summer with delicious and healthy Korean foods! 🥗