Vitamin C may improve smokers’ blood circulation

A dose of vitamin C may give a quick boost to the poorer-than-average blood circulation seen in healthy young smokers, a Japanese study suggests.

The study of 25 healthy men found that although smokers initially showed poorer results on a test of blood flow to the heart, that changed after they took a large dose — 2 grams — of vitamin C.

Shortly after taking the vitamin, the 13 smokers showed blood circulation on par with that of the 12 non-smokers, according to findings published in the American Heart Journal.

However, lest smokers think they can undo heart damage by chasing a cigarette with a vitamin C pill, the researchers say their findings underline the dangers of smoking.

Study co-author Issei Komuro told that the “clear” message from the results is that smokers need to quit.

Komuro and colleagues at Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine report the findings in the American Heart Journal.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, a substance that helps clear the body of cell-damaging molecules called oxygen free radicals. Because of this, it’s thought that the vitamin may counter the “oxidative stress” that smoking puts on the lining of the blood vessels — a mechanism by which smoking leads to artery disease.

The new study looked at the effect of oral vitamin C on coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), a measure of how well blood flow speeds up to help the heart when it’s under high demands. Past research has shown that smokers show poorer blood-vessel dilation in response to blood flow, and have a diminished CFVR.

Komuro’s team used a non-invasive ultrasound technique to measure CFVR in smokers and non-smokers, before and after they took vitamin C.

They found that before taking the vitamin, smokers had a lower CFVR than non-smokers did. Two and four hours after the dose of vitamin C, however, smokers’ average CFVR was “restored” to a more-normal level.

Though the men in the study were given a large dose of vitamin C, Komuro pointed out that it’s probably useless to take doses beyond 200 milligrams, because the body will excrete the excess.

Moreover, it’s not clear that loading up on vitamin C can benefit smokers. Some trials have found that taking C supplements does not improve smokers’ blood vessel function, at least in the short term.

Komuro said further, large-scale trials should look at whether daily vitamin C supplements cut smokers’ long-term risk of coronary artery disease.

Mental distress common in adults with arthritis: Many adults with arthritis suffer frequent mental distress, and this goes hand-in-hand with an impaired quality of life, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

However, the findings also suggest that patients can do some things to improve their situation.

Dr. Tara W. Strine and colleagues looked at data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which included 48,577 participants with arthritis who were 45 years of age or older. The team defined frequent mental distress as having at least 14 self-reported mentally unhealthy days in the preceding 30 days.

They found that 13.4 percent of participants with arthritis had frequent mental distress, compared with 5.4 percent of subjects without arthritis who were included in the surveillance study.

Among the people with arthritis, those with frequent mental distress were 1.7 times more likely to be underweight than normal weight, and 1.2 times more likely to be obese, than those without frequent mental distress, the researchers report in the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

In addition, arthritic subjects with frequent mental distress were 1.6 times more likely to be inactive.

This group was also more likely to report their health as fair or poor and to have at least 14 physically unhealthy days in the past 30 days, compared with other people who had arthritis but did not suffer frequent mental distress.

“New public health interventions need to be developed that address the specific challenges of those with mental distress and arthritis,” the researchers write. “In addition, physicians should encourage their patients with arthritis and mental distress to participate in current educational and behavioral interventions proven to have both physical and psychological benefits.”

Beat bad breath: Everyone’s had a bout with bad breath, but when it becomes chronic, it’s time to see your dentist.

Some sources of bad breath include: what you eat; not brushing and flossing daily; tobacco products; or a medical disorder such as a respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, postnasal drip, bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment, the American Dental Association (ADA) says.The ADA says you should brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, remembering to brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss to clean between teeth.



source

To Be Or Not To Be... Vegetarian

Many times when I am working with a client and trying to get a feel of what they like to eat, I hear, “Oh, I never eat red meat, it’s soo not good for you.” Being a carnivore (and Sephardic to boot!) I could never just stop eating red meat, cold turkey that is! (It’s still a great source of iron and a lean cut is pretty high in protein, vitamins, and isn’t high in fat.) But practically speaking, is there any health benefit to being a vegetarian? Can a diet without meat provide adequate nutrients?

A vegetarian does not eat meat, fish, or fowl, or any product containing them. A typical vegetarian diet focuses on grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables; still, considerable variations exist. A lacto-ovo vegetarian avoids meat, fish, and poultry, but consumes dairy products and eggs. The lacto vegetarian consumes dairy but avoids meat, fish, poultry, and eggs. A vegan, or total vegetarian, excludes both dairy and eggs, obtaining all nutrients from plant sources. So how prevalent is vegetarianism in the U.S.? A 2006 poll conducted by the Vegetarian Resource Group found that 7% of adults never eat red meat and that 2.3% never eat meat, fish, or fowl. That’s no small cheese!

Why would someone want to choose to be a vegetarian? There are a variety of reasons people do so, including concern about the environment, animal welfare, or world hunger; or they simply don’t like the taste, never really ate meat often anyway, or believe it is unhealthy. Aside from a healthier lifestyle, religious beliefs and/or economic issues may also factor into this choice.

From a more traditional standpoint, the science of nutrition has focused mainly on the intake of nine nutrients that are adequate to promote growth and reproduction. Lately, however, this paradigm has been shifting towards focusing on an “optimal diet” which promotes not only health and longevity but also reduces the risk of diet-related chronic diseases or the prevention of other diseases, including cancer. A vegetarian eating plan can be adequate and optimal and may even provide numerous health benefits.

According to various studies, reduced red-meat consumption correlates with healthier cholesterol levels, other heart health benefits, and reduced rates of pancreatic and colorectal cancers. (Please note: It was unclear how much meat was consumed prior and subsequent to the study to produce that effect and how fatty the meats were.)

Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet may aid in weight management. In 2007, Burke and colleagues suggested that individuals that adhered to a lacto-ovo vegetarian regimen were able to reduce intakes of both fat and calories and therefore reduce overall body weight. Another comprehensive study published by the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders (2003) examined the body mass index (BMI) of four different groups, including meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. The meat eaters had the highest BMI, followed by fish eaters and vegetarians. Vegans had the lowest BMI of all groups.

Contrary to popular belief, an individual’s protein requirements can be met solely with plant foods. Although animal proteins are considered “complete proteins,” since they contain all eight essential amino acids, plant sources of protein are lacking in one or more of them and are referred to as “incomplete” or “complementary” proteins. Some individuals know how to pair up the protein sources to get a complete protein. Some wholesome combinations include pasta and veggies, a peanut-butter sandwich (on whole grain bread—not just whole wheat!) with vegetable soup, or a green salad with walnuts and sunflower seeds.

When a variety of plant foods are consumed and adequate calorie levels are satisfied, the incomplete proteins will combine to form complete ones; the amino acids will find and join each other. If you don’t necessarily consume complementary proteins in the same meal, you can just consume them throughout the day.

Who needs meat, right? What’s the catch here? The challenge is getting enough of certain nutrients by eating a variety of foods. One such nutrient, vitamin B12, which contains cobalamine, biotin, and folic acid, may be lacking in vegetarians since it is found predominantly in meat protein. This is especially the case for pregnant and depressed individuals. The good news is that lacto-ovo vegetarians can get adequate B12 if they consume whole eggs and dairy regularly. Vegans have to be sure to consume fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, or soy milk. Just some food for thought: spirulina, sea vegetables, and fermented soy products are not reliable sources of this important vitamin.

Vegetarians, especially vegans, must make sure to consume Vitamin D and calcium, both essential for bone health. Lack of Vitamin D can interfere with normal bone metabolism, leading to rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. In a study by Barr (2002) of 90 vegetarians, 56 reported that their diets have become restrictive over time, and 48 planned more changes, specifically, to use fewer dairy products.

Furthermore, a Swedish study of 30 vegans concluded that intakes of calcium and vitamin D were below recommended guidelines. Specifically, when dairy products are omitted, fortified foods such as soy, milk, cereals, breads, and juices must be consumed. Unfortunately, vegetable sources of calcium, such as spinach, contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which interferes with absorption.

Foods rich in Vitamin D include fortified milk products, fatty fish such as salmon, and fish liver oils, most notably cod liver oil. Fortified foods and eggs from hens fed Vitamin D are also good sources. And the best source of Vitamin D is the sun! Just a few minutes a day is all you need. However, factors such as the use of sunscreen, the time of day, the season of the year, the level of the pigment melatonin in the skin, and even the distance one is from the equator, all limit the skin’s ability to produce this vitamin.

A vegetarian must also consume iron. Iron is a vital part of hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen in the blood. Iron intake is important during all stages of life, especially for growing children, and pregnant and menstruating women. The iron in meat, fish, and poultry is “heme” iron, which the body absorbs readily. The iron in dairy, eggs, plant foods, cereals, and breads is “non-heme,” which is less readily absorbed. However, foods rich in Vitamin C, such as tomatoes, oranges, and broccoli, aid in the absorption of non-heme iron.

So, if you ate spaghetti and tomato sauce, the Vitamin C in the sauce should help with absorbing the iron in the spaghetti. In addition, those individuals who exercise must make sure their iron levels are adequate, since many people, especially females who participate in intense, regular physical activity, report marginal to low levels of iron. Iron requirements may be 30% to 70% greater in active people as compared to sedentary people.

In conclusion, a well-planned vegetarian diet can be an excellent choice for maintaining a health-conscious lifestyle. Protein consumption is less of a concern than ingesting adequate vitamins and minerals from a variety of sources. So with careful planning, enjoy nature’s bounty to the fullest!



source

Vitamin C Lowers Blood Pressure

Lynn Kerew Chiropractic is a Santa Monica Chiropractor that specializes in treating a variety of symptoms caused by improper ergonomics or a lack of vitamins. A recent Public Relations study for vitamin C products found that high blood pressure is a heavy contributor to strokes and heart attacks all over the world. While not everyone dies from it, this doesn’t mean it’s not potentially fatal. High blood pressure is in most cases caused by hypertension; by treating that disease, the blood pressure will usually turn to normal. There are a few things that cause it, among which are thyroid disease, alcohol, pregnancy, and obesity.

The aforementioned, are factors that can be averted through medication or discipline, but then there are the factors that cannot be averted in any way at all. They include gender, race, and age, among other things. They cannot be changed; they simply have to be lived with. There are medications however, that will reduce blood pressure. There are various pills, treatments, and other assortments of clinical remedies such as beta-blockers, which are usually prescribed after a heart attack. Unfortunately, while beta-blockers work wonders in reducing blood pressure, they also tend to cause Type 2 diabetes through the decrease of insulin sensitivity, which actually adds to the problem, since people who are insulin-resistant have been found to have extremely high blood pressure. It is amazing how much insulin has to do with blood pressure! So if you do have hypertension, make sure to have your blood sugar checked constantly, the ability to normalize your blood sugar will go a long way in preventing high blood pressure.

All medications have a side effect of some kind, there’s no getting around it, and there are no exceptions. Yet some people believe that drugs are the only way, after all, that is what most hospitals will tell you. So what do you do? Once again, nature provides, you can eat fruits and vegetables, which help a lot with high blood pressure due to the vitamins in them.

A recent study has shown that vitamin C is capable of reducing blood pressure. The study consisted of about 250 women, from the ages eight to eleven years old, and the study lasted for about ten years, it was shown that vitamin C did indeed reduce their blood pressure. It has also been noted though, that vitamin C is best used with other blood pressure reducing remedies such as green tea, and some tea is actually made with vitamin C in it already.

This is an excellent discovery, when you consider the damage drugs can do to your body. If you have ever watched a drug commercial, you’ve probably heard them list the side effects, and the list they give causes more problems than the drug is supposed to cure, making it not even worth it. But if a cure can be found within nature, then such things can be avoided, and good health can be obtained in our own backyards. Meaning that while age, gender, race, and social status cannot be changed(yet), the high blood pressure that accompanies them can be kept in line, and help you to live a happy, stroke free life with your friends, family, and loved ones for many years to come.

P.S. know the relation between Vitamin C and Vitamin D.

source

Health Benefits of Stinging Nettle

Nettle (Urtica dioica) has recently become a popular treatment for allergies based on a small study found in the July issue of the Phytotherapy Research journal. Nettle is an herb commonly found in the damp areas of Europe and North America. The roots, leaves, and seeds are all said to have health benefits. When infused in boiling water, the roots and leaves make tea.

The recent study shows that the nettle extract inhibits several key inflammatory events that cause the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Histamines in the herb can reduce the body’s response to pollen and other allergens.

The study appears to confirm results found in an older study which used a freeze-dried preparation of the nettle herb in individuals with allergic rhinitis. After one week of therapy, the herbal treatment was found to reduce symptoms.

Stinging Nettles is a common plant that has been used medicinally throughout history. Caesar’s Roman troops are thought to have brought nettle from England and used the spines for warmth. Touching the stingers on the nettle plant causes an allergic reaction, probably due to the formic acid found in the stingers which initiates a localized histamine release, thus producing a burning sensation.

In Europe, it was used as a spring tonic, a treatment for scurvy, as a diuretic, and a treatment for joint pain. Nettle is rich in Vitamin C and the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E. It is also high in chlorophyll, iron, potassium, magnesium, chromium, and zinc.

Other possible health benefits for nettle include anti-inflammatory effects, relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary tract infections, and the lowering of blood pressure and blood sugar. Nettle tea also has a mild laxative effect, which could be useful for the treatment of constipation.

Stinging nettle is available as a dried leaf, extract, capsules and as a root tincture. Typical dosage is 600 mg dried herb or 2-4 ml per day of fluid extract in divided doses. To make a tea, prepare 2/3 cup of boiling water over 3 to 4 teaspoons of dried leaves or root and steep for 3-5 minutes.

As a side effect, it may occasionally cause mild gastrointestinal irritation when taken internally. It may also cause a rash with topical use. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy, as studies have indicated that it may alter the menstrual cycle and contribute to miscarriage. It has also not been established as safe for children to use.

Because stinging nettle can affect the blood’s ability to clot, it could interfere with blood-thinners such as Coumadin, Plavix and aspirin. It should also not be used with prescription medications for high blood pressure or diabetes. Always discuss all non-prescription treatments with your primary care physician.



source

Health Tip of the day: Amazing Benefits of Goji Berries

Goji berry is a sweet-tasting, dark-red coloured fruit, this fruit has extraordinary healing properties that most people don't know about, it is considered as the world's most nutrient-dense food. For over 2,000 years Goji has proven to improve many health conditions and cure ailments. Goji is said to contain more vitamin C than oranges, more beta-carotene than carrots, and more iron than steak.

It is a common practice in Chinese medicine to prescribe it to treat liver, kidney, or eye diseases, along with other herbs medicine. Many Chinese people consume goji berries in their day-to-day lives because they believe that red coloured berry can keep them healthy, young, and energetic. Goji berries can be eaten as raw, as goji juice, as herbal tea (e.g. with Chrysanthemum), with yogurt, and with cereal etc.

Health Benefits of Goji

- Goji is known as the "longevity fruit." Its unique master molecule polysaccharides and powerful antioxidants fight against free radicals that cause damage on the body.

- Goji increases stamina and endurance, it helps to eliminate fatigue, especially when recovering from illness.

- Goji stimulates the secretion by the pituitary gland of hGH (human growth hormone), the youth hormone. The benefits of hGH includes; reduction of body fat, better sleep, improved memory, accelerated healing, restored libido and a more youthful appearance.

- Goji can help protect your DNA. Exposure to chemicals, pollutants and free radicals can cause DNA damage and breakage, leading to genetic mutations, cancer and even death. Goji's betaine and master molecule polysaccharides can restore and repair damaged DNA.

- Goji can help you lose weight. In a study done obese patient were given good quality goji juice in the morning and afternoon. Most patients significantly lose a lot of weight. Goji polysaccharides were shown to reduce body weight by enhancing the conversion of food into energy instead of fat.

- Goji can reduce the toxic effect of Chemotherapy and Radiation. Goji was shown to enhance the effect of radiation in combating lung cancer, allowing a lower dose to be used. Other research indicates that goji can protect against some of the noxious side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

- Goji can help enhance sexual function. Studies have shown that goji significantly increases testosterone level in the blood, thereby increasing libido in both men and women.

- Goji berries are popular for their vision-improvement properties. It was found in the study that goji was able to reduce the time it takes for vision to adapt to darkness. The carotenoids in goji may also protect against macular degeneration and cataracts.

- Goji can prevent cancer. Goji's antioxidant and unique polysaccharides can stop the genetic mutations that can lead to cancer. Some scientists believe that goji may be an especially good supplement to prevent liver cancer because it exerts liver protection and anti-cancer effects at the same time.

- Goji can inhibit cancer growth. Goji also has the ability to cause the death of tumor cells by inducing apoptosis, a process in which cancer cells are broken down and recycled.

- Goji helps to manage and fight cancer. Patient taking a cancer drug together with goji has recovery rate of up to 250 percent better than those patient taking the drug alone. These advanced-cancer patient experienced amazing regressions of malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and malignant hydrothorax. Remission of cancers in patient treated with goji lasted significantly longer than those treated without goji.

- Goji can help improve memory. Goji is considered as "brain tonic", because it contains betaine, which is converted in the body into choline, substances that enhance memory and recall ability.

- Goji can make you feel happy. It is said that the daily consumption of Goji can give a person a happy disposition.

Other Health Benefits of Goji Berry includes;

- Goji can help to strengthen your immune system and heart, help support normal kidney and liver function, maintain healthy cholesterol level, normalise blood pressure, prevent and control diabetes.

- Goji can also help to strengthen the muscles and bones, maintain healthy gums and improve your digestion and it can help you to get a good night sleep.

Nutrient Contents of Goji: 11 essential elements, 22 trace dietary minerals, 18 amino acids, 6 essential vitamins, 8 polysaccharides, and 6 monosaccharide. It contains 5 unsaturated fatty acids (essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, beta-sitosterol and other phytosterols), 5 carotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene and zeaxanthin etc), xanthophy, and many phenolic pigments associated with antioxidant properties.

source

High Cholesterol Levels may be Controlled by Vitamin C

Most people know that vitamin C is very important to one’s health. It helps build bones, teeth and tendons. It is a powerful antioxidant that may help slow the aging process. It also may reduce the length of colds and flu. Research performed by Dr. Jensen concludes that vitamin C also plays an important role in the regulation of the body’s cholesterol levels. In an article recently published on his health tips web site, Dr. Jensen points out that most cholesterol is actually made by the body; only about 15-20% of the cholesterol in the blood is from our diets. When someone has a diet that is high in cholesterol, the body slows cholesterol production and vice-versa. Unfortunately, for many different reasons some people cannot slow down their own cholesterol production as much as they should. Their blood cholesterol tests high and their doctor usually recommends that they go on a cholesterol-lowering drug, often the statins. However, vitamin C itself can lower cholesterol levels in the same way that statins do, without side effects.

The cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, like Lipotor, work by inhibiting (blocking) a key enzyme that helps make cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol levels in the bloodstream then lower. But this is not the end of the story. There can be serious side effects from taking the statin drugs, including muscle deterioration, kidney failure and liver problems. Other potential side effects are memory or cognitive problems from the cholesterol level in the brain actually becoming too low. Cholesterol is absolutely essential for making hormones and also forms an important part of the outside of cells (known as the cell’s membrane). Sometimes taking cholesterol-lowering drugs will end up lowering it too much, causing the additional side effects mentioned above.

How can people use vitamin C to cope with high cholesterol? Not only does vitamin C inhibit the same enzyme that the statins do, without any of their side effects, the amount of the enzyme inhibition depends on the amount of vitamin C someone takes. So, if their cholesterol levels are too high, they can take several grams of vitamin C daily. There is no evidence that vitamin C will lower cholesterol levels too much, so it’s a win-win situation. Vitamin C also regulates cholesterol in a different way. It converts it into a substance called a bile acid, which is then broken down by the liver. Vitamin C deficiency slows the above conversion, which can then make excess cholesterol accumulate in the arteries and also cause gallstones. There is much evidence now that vitamin C deficiency also raises cholesterol levels above normal.

Vitamin C performs another bit of “magic” as well; it raises the “good” cholesterol called HDL, High-Density Lipoprotein, an average of seven percent. HDL cholesterol is responsible for cleaning up the bad cholesterol in the blood, referred to as LDL, Low-Density Lipoprotein, and sending it back to the liver to be broken down. It can even lower blood pressure to a certain extent.

Last but not least, vitamin C helps prevent oxidation damage of the LDL cholesterol. Why is this important? Most researchers now believe that the process of heart disease is started by LDL cholesterol becoming oxidized, which makes it stick to the walls of the arteries. This is the beginning of arterial plaques, which leads to clogged arteries and heart disease. Vitamin C helps prevent the first step in heart disease, it is an inexpensive and very safe supplement, and is obviously needed by the body for many different things. One thing to keep in mind about vitamin C is that it is acidic, and some people may not like the extra acidity in their stomach after taking it. They can try buffered forms instead, such as ester-C and calcium ascorbate.

Readers can learn more about the benefits of vitamin C on regulating high cholesterol levels at Dr. Jensen’s heath tips web site at www.individualizednutrition.com/


2009-10-05 21:22:31 - Dr. Richard Jensen, a holistic nutritionist, has conducted extensive research on vitamin C and concluded that controlling high levels of cholesterol is among its many positive effects on the body.



source

The Health Benefits of KIMCHI

Kimchi is, as it were, on everyone's lips. The U.S. monthly Health recently selected the Korean national side dish as one of the five leading health foods in the world. Studies have shown that kimchi, which has plenty of lactic acid bacteria, is effective in preventing cancer as well as promoting digestion. Both the BBC and the Washington Post earlier reported that kimchi is effective in preventing bird flu. Kimchi is also said to be effective in losing weight, killing germs and strengthening the immune system.

There are more than 200 varieties of kimchi, and the same kind of kimchi can be different in taste and benefits depending on how far it is fermented. The Chosun Ilbo takes a look at the nutritional value according to variety and how far kimchi should be fermented to produce the greatest health benefits.


If you want to make the most out of kimchi, you should eat it when it is properly fermented. Some expert opinion has it that kimchi that has been fermented for several years is superior in preventing cancer and aging, but if it is pickled for too long, microbes destroy the nutritional value.

An experiment by Pusan National University's kimchi institute shows that properly fermented kimchi is best for curbing the growth of colon cancer cells (72 percent), followed by highly-fermented kimchi (53 percent) and unfermented kimchi (51 percent). Properly fermented kimchi has more lactic acid bacteria, some 10 times that of unfermented kimchi. The amount of lactic acid bacteria and vitamins is at its highest when kimchi is two to three weeks old, which is also the time when it tastes best. After that, it gradually declines.

Fried kimchi and kimchi stew have less nutritional value since the process destroys lactic acid bacteria and vitamin C, which are vulnerable to heat. Dr. Yang Si-young with Doosan Food BG's kimchi institute, however, says studies show that even dead bacteria provide health benefits, so it cannot be said that kimchi stew has no benefits at all.


◆ Different Varieties, Different Benefits

Kimchi made with hot peppers is a leading diet food. The capsaicin in hot peppers dissolves fat, and thus eating kimchi helps lose weight. But a recent study shows that white kimchi, which does not contain hot pepper, also prevents obesity. Conducted by a research team at Pusan National University, it shows that the garlic and ginger in white kimchi also produce fat-dissolving effects that are as strong as those generated by capsaicin.

Leaf mustard kimchi and green onion kimchi are rich in chlorophyll and diallyl sulfides, which have superb anti-cancer and anti-aging effects. "Pickled radish kimchi and sliced white radish kimchi promote digestion thanks to diastase, a digestive enzyme that is plentiful in radish," says Park Chae-rin, a research director with Pulmuone’s Kimchi Field Museum. "Watery plain kimchi made of radish is very good at pr


◆ Less Salt, More Benefits

One drawback is that you need plenty of salt for pickling. For every 60 grams of kimchi during a meal, you consume 3-4 grams of salt or a total of 9-12 grams of salt a day. Thus eating kimchi can make you consume more salt than the WHO's current wisdom recommends, which is 10 grams a day. Salty food supposedly increases the risk of gastritis, gastric ulcers and hypertension. It is therefore best to eat kimchi made with the minimum of salt needed to stop it from rotting, while patients with high blood pressure should reduce their kimchi intake.



source