‘Beauty secret?’ Actress Lee Chung-ah’s eel and rice habit draws attention
Actress Lee Chung-ah / Captured from Lee Chung-ah's Instagram
ENA drama 'Honour' actress takes to eel dish for energy boost
Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com.
Actress Lee Chung-ah recently shared on social media that she was enjoying eel over a bed of rice as part of her health routine.
Eel is widely considered a nutritious food thanks to its beneficial nutrients — but it is also relatively high in calories. A 100g serving of eel contains around 250–300 kcal, and depending on the amount of rice and sauce, a bowl of eel rice can total 700–1,000 kcal.
Lee previously revealed in a TV appearance that she avoids extreme dieting by maintaining consistent daily habits.
Let’s take a closer look at eel rice, one of her go-to “health meals.”
Rice with marinated eel / Captured from Lee Chung-ah's Instagram
Watch the rice and sauce
Eel is rich in vitamins A, D and E, protein and unsaturated fats which help reduce fatigue and support immune function. It’s also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for vascular health and reducing inflammation.
The issue lies in the white rice and sweet sauce. The sauce used in eel rice is typically made with soy sauce mixed with sugar. Combined with high glycemic index foods like white rice, this can cause a sharp spike in blood sugar. Since eel is also high in fat, eating it with carbohydrates like rice creates conditions that make fat storage more likely.
Still, eel is packed with beneficial nutrients, so it can be enjoyed with a few precautions like reducing the amount of rice or going light on the sweet sauce. Adding fiber-rich vegetables can also help moderate blood sugar spikes.
Meals like eel and rice, which combine fats and carbohydrates, can help maintain weight and restore energy. The protein and fats in eel also support muscle maintenance and hormonal balance. For those feeling fatigue, eating eel with rice once a week can be beneficial — though it’s still best to keep the sauce to a minimum.
This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.