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Kimchi as cure for Asian flu?
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I saw an article reprinted in the local paper the other day which tied this into sauerkraut. Apparently in Wisconsin sales of sauerkraut have gone through the roof (sauerkraut being the German version of kimchi. Or is kimchi the Korean version of sauerkraut?)

The article I read only identified that 'an extract' of kimchi was used to treat poultry infected with the bird flu. It's not clear though that the 'active ingredient' is common to kimchi and sauerkraut or is specific to kimchi.

I suppose if you contract the bird flu that you'll want to be on the safe side and just eat the kimchi. Mmm.

Boosting kimchi's credentials at a time of doubt and conflict have been comments from highly respected scientists who say that the pungent Korean pickle may have some effect on bird flu, a highly virulent and fatal avian influenza virus spreading around the world.

Professor Kang Sa-ouk of Seoul National University said in an interview that South Korea had already begun to sell an extract of kimchi to treat outbreaks of flu in poultry overseas.

"Our research team is currently studying on whether there's any material in kimchi itself to treat this bird flu, and, if any, how it fights the virus," Kang said.

"We don't know exactly whether the kimchi lactobacillus itself is killing the virus or strengthening cells, thus preventing the bird flu virus from moving forward. What is certain at this point is that when we feed kimchi lactobacillus to bird-flu infected chickens, they are cured," he said.

The product, marketed as Leucocide, was already finding a strong market response around the world, the professor said.

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