| March 16, 2005,
as reported by just-food.com: As global concern
over the next possible flu pandemic grows, researchers
at Seoul National University think they may have found
a cure in a common Korean dish. Kimchi, or spicy pickled
cabbage, has long been known for it medicinal values and
has been credited with curing everything from the common
cold to a lonely heart, now scientists want to add bird
flu to the list.
Researchers at Seoul National University conducted
trials in which chickens with avian flu were fed the
active lactic acid bacterium abundantly present in kimchi
and showed a marked recovery.
Of the 13 infected chickens given the kimchi extract,
11 of them recovered a week later, according to the
Korea Times. Reports of the findings have sent kimchi
sales soaring all over Asia. Korea produces about 460
thousand tons of kimchi and exports about $78m worth
of the pungent delicacy each year.
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