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Actor Cha Ye-ryun drew attention after sharing a homemade restorative meal she prepared for her husband, Joo Sang-wook. The spread — featuring dakgomtang (chicken broth soup) and braised tofu — is rich in protein, and experts say such a meal can help the body recover from fatigue and heat exhaustion during the summer months.

Cha recently introduced the recipes on her YouTube channel. For the dakgomtang, she trimmed the fat from the chicken, simmered it for more than 40 minutes with whole garlic cloves, onion, green onion and radish, then shredded the meat and topped it with garlic chives. The braised tofu was prepared by pan-frying tofu until golden, then cooking it in a sauce made from soy sauce, minced garlic, tuna sauce, oligosaccharide, red pepper flakes and gochujang, finished with perilla oil, sesame oil and olive oil.

Chicken is a well-known high-protein food that is relatively easy to digest and absorb, making it a frequently recommended protein source for children, older adults and patients in recovery. It is rich in essential amino acids needed for muscle maintenance and immune function, and choosing leaner cuts keeps the caloric load comparatively low.

Chicken also contains imidazole dipeptides — specifically anserine and carnosine — compounds associated with antioxidant activity and physiological functions related to fatigue.

Research supports this. In a randomized crossover trial involving 20 healthy adult men, participants who consumed chicken extract for four weeks showed improvement in certain markers related to mental fatigue recovery. The researchers suggested that anserine and carnosine may have contributed to those changes.

However, the study used chicken extract, not a standard serving of chicken, so the findings do not mean that eating chicken at a meal will directly relieve fatigue. Experts say it is more accurate to think of chicken as a food that supplies high-quality protein and nutrients, rather than an all-purpose restorative.

The tofu served alongside is also a healthy protein source. Made from soybeans, tofu is a representative plant-based protein food that contains essential amino acids and supports muscle maintenance and recovery. It is low in saturated fat and provides a range of nutrients including calcium and magnesium.

A study published in the international journal Nutrients found that among 84 older adults who consumed soy protein-rich foods over 12 weeks, muscle-related indicators — including skeletal muscle mass and appendicular muscle mass — improved.

Soy foods may also benefit blood sugar management. Their high protein and dietary fiber content helps moderate post-meal blood sugar spikes, and some studies have reported that people who regularly eat soy foods face a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who do not. Researchers suggested that plant-based protein, isoflavones and unsaturated fatty acids in soybeans may have contributed to the metabolic health improvements observed.

Experts emphasize that when energy flags in summer, relying on any single restorative food is less effective than eating a balanced diet that includes protein, vegetables and whole grains. Staying well hydrated, getting regular sleep and incorporating light strength training can further reduce muscle loss and aid recovery from fatigue.


rainbow@heraldcorp.com