Various foods that are classified into different colors have various effects depending on their characteristic color. The unique color of these plants is due to the phytochemical component, which gives food not only the characteristic color but also its own unique flavor.
Black food contains various vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids, including anthocyanin, a type of phytochemical and black water-soluble pigment. By the mechanism of action of these balanced nutrients, it is known to help improve the immune system that protects our body from various viruses and pathogens, as well as help prevent vascular health and aging. Now, let’s learn about the various types and effects of black food one by one.
Black Food Types and Effects
1. Black Beans
The most representative food of black food is black beans. The powerful antioxidant action of the abundant anthocyanin component removes free radicals and other harmful substances that cause cell damage, thereby improving immune function and delaying aging. In addition, anthocyanins cause a decrease in blood flow, suppress the formation of blood clots, the main cause of various vascular diseases, and help stabilize blood pressure.
In addition, black soybeans are rich in isoflavones, which are a type of protein. This isoflavones are similar in molecular structure to estrogen, a female hormone, as well as their effects on the body. It is also known to be effective in preventing osteoporosis, which often occurs during menopause. And isoflavones are reported to have beneficial effects in reducing the risk of cancer such as colon cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.
2. Black rice
The second black food I would like to introduce is black rice, which is characterized by its fragrant aroma and taste. Black rice contains 4 times more anthocyanin than black soybeans, as well as high-quality protein, essential amino acids, vitamins D and E, calcium, iron, and vitamin B group components involved in various metabolism. It is said to be effective in preventing various cardiovascular diseases, enhancing immune function, and preventing anemia and skin aging. Due to the excellent efficacy of black rice, it is also called the black pearl. Black rice is mixed with general white rice to cook rice, and it is also widely used as a main ingredient in various processed foods such as tea, rice cakes, beverages, sweets, and sikhye.
3. Black sesame
Black sesame, also called black sesame, is a representative food of black food. Like the black beans and black rice mentioned above, the high content of anthocyanins is said to have a variety of health benefits, such as overall boosting of the immune system, cholesterol control, and anti-aging. In addition, black sesame seeds are rich in anthocyanin components as well as an antioxidant called gammatocopherol, which is said to have an excellent effect in protecting individual tissues and blood vessels in the body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. In addition, black sesame contains a high content of keratin, which is the basis of epithelial structures such as hair, nails, and skin, as well as tryptophan, an essential amino acid, which helps promote and manage hair and scalp health. . Also, it is one of the effects of black sesame to help improve brain functions such as cognitive ability and memory by rich lecithin component. Black sesame seeds are roasted at a high temperature and then mixed with milk and soy milk to drink. They are also widely used as raw materials for porridge, injeolmi, gangjeong, dumplings, sauces, and processed foods such as confectionery, ice cream, and jam.
4. Black Barley
Black barley is one of the black foods that are called by various names such as black barley and black barley. The content of anthocyanins is about 4 times higher than that of ordinary barley, and this amount is known to contain much higher amounts than black beans and black sesame, which belong to the same black food. This abundant amount of anthocyanin not only reduces the level of LDL cholesterol, which is harmful cholesterol that blocks blood vessels, but also removes free radicals that attack normal cells and cause various diseases. do. In addition, black barley is a type of polysaccharide and is rich in beta-glucan, which is known as a powerful immune-active substance. This beta-glucan component is involved in the action of promoting the secretion of cytokines that act as immunomodulators, helping to activate immune cells such as T cells and B cells, and at the same time attacking cells infected by viruses and pathogens. It is said to be effective in helping the proliferation of NK cells and helping to boost immunity.
5. Squid ink
With its unique taste and aroma, squid ink is recognized as a black food with excellent efficacy, as it is used not only as an ingredient in various dishes such as spaghetti and pasta, but also in the form of processed foods such as sweets. Squid ink has a high content of a component called rhizotim, which is said to have excellent antiviral action to protect our body from various viruses infiltrating from the outside due to its excellent sterilization action.
In addition, squid ink is excellent in helping the synthesis of collagen, a hard protein that composes the skin, and not only helps to improve skin elasticity, but also has the effect of delaying skin aging due to its abundant nucleic acid content.
