E28 | Health Explored | Korea - Food is Medicine

In a tranquil mountain monastery, Chef-Monk Jeong Kwan invites us into her world of mindful, intentional cooking. Her approach to food is rooted in simplicity, compassion, and a deep respect for nature. Together, we pick vegetables from the temple garden and learn why plant-based, seasonal eating has been central to Korean temple cuisine for generations. A highlight of the episode is learning the art of fermentation—from soy sauce aged in clay pots to rich, umami-packed bean pastes that require months or years to mature. Jeong Kwan explains that fermentation mirrors the human journey: slow, patient, and transformative. Cooking with her becomes a meditation, revealing that food prepared with intention nourishes not only the body but the spirit. This episode challenges us to rethink our relationship with ingredients, time, and the act of eating itself.