"K-Beauty is the key to perfect skin".

No, Korean skincare products are not the secret behind Korean women's flawless skin. Instead, the key is primarily their diet.

Koreans eat fermented foods almost daily. Traditional dishes like kimchi are full of "gut friendly" bacteria that help you prevent and treat acne, wrinkles and even rosacea - giving you healthy, elastic and firm skin.

What is Fermentation?

Fermentation is a metabolic process in which a living organism, such as yeast or bacteria, converts a carbohydrate (usually starch or sugar) into alcohol or acid .

These little creatures break down the food into smaller parts that the body can absorb more easily. This makes it easier for us to digest these foods and benefit from all their nutritional benefits. These nutritional benefits are the secret weapon in your journey to optimal skin health.

How to Add More Fermented Foods to Your Diet

Don't worry. You don't have to travel all the way to South Korea to get your fix of kimchi. Grocery store shelves are full of fermented foods. You just need to know where to look.

Here are three fermented foods you can include in your diet for healthy and optimal skin health:

Kimchi
If you've ever been to South Korea, you've probably noticed two things.

1. Koreans say kimchi instead of "cheese" when taking portrait photos.
2. Koreans have kimchi with almost every meal. This spicy, fermented traditional food is so popular that they use it in everything from soups and burgers to pancakes!
   
   

The traditional recipe calls for red cabbage to be fermented with red pepper, fish sauce, garlic, ginger and spring onions, but you can find variations that include cucumber and even oysters!

Kimchi is full of lactobacillus, gut-friendly bacteria that help your body with the digestive process and calm inflammation. In addition, kimchi has tons of antioxidants that fight free radicals and prevent the oxidative damage they cause. In other words: kimchi reduces the risk of early signs of aging.

If you're not ready to pour kimchi over your pancakes just yet, try serving it with steamed noodles. Or top a steak or chicken. It's very good!

Kombucha
The Chinese call it "the elixir of life". We westerners have given it the nickname "mushroom". Call it what you will, kombucha is the new darling of the health food world.

This fermented drink is made with black tea, sugar and a colony of bacteria and yeast. These little creatures begin the fermentation process, consuming 90% of the sugar along the way. Once they've done their job, the kombucha becomes carbonated. Now it is also rich in vinegar, enzymes, B vitamins, lactic acid, gluconic acid, acetic acid and probiotics. It also contains very little sugar.

But… Kombucha is a taste that some people have to get used to liking. But it's so worth it once you like the taste. Its high acid and enzyme content helps your pancreas work more efficiently and detoxifies your liver. Once all these toxins are flushed out of your system, they will no longer be able to harm your skin. Goodbye, pimples!

Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is one of the world's oldest dishes. The ancient Roman writer Cato mentioned that he preserved cabbage with salt in his job as he tried to improve agriculture.

How to do it: first you slice the cabbage into thin pieces, then you put it together with salt and let it ferment. This is all! Anyone can do it, and I really mean everyone. Here is a super easy recipe to follow.

Sauerkraut is a powerful method to reduce the appearance of acne. It has lots of bacteria and sulfur, a combination that reduces the risk of acne breakouts. In addition, it contains a large amount of vitamin C and an antioxidant that also works to even out the skin tone. If you want a flawless, radiant complexion, eat 3-4 forkfuls a day. P.S It goes very well with brown rice.

Other Fermented Foods

If these foods feel too adventurous, start with something more familiar like Greek yogurt, sour cream or pickles. But be careful! Most ready-made products sold in grocery stores are not made by fermentation. Instead, the vegetables are just soaked in vinegar. It does give them a sour taste, but none of the benefits of fermentation. Look for the real thing and choose raw, organic and unpasteurized fermented products.