Sun and Ssukgat: The Korean Art of Self-Care, Wellness and Longevity

This informative debut from Bang, cofounder of sustainable fashion brand the R Collective, details the wisdom she learned while traveling throughout South Korea in search of traditional wellness practices to restore her health after the stresses of her punishing work schedule landed her in the hospital. She recounts visiting a Buddhist monastery in Naejangsan National Park where nuns grow and forage their own food, and afterward adapting her own diet to more closely match theirs, which involved ditching artificial sweeteners for organic honey and learning to ferment her own food. (Fermentation, she explains, fosters the growth of good bacteria that aid digestion.) Elsewhere, Bang explains how the hot water in jjimjilbangs, or traditional bathhouses, relieve muscle tension and improve blood flow, and how seaweed of the kind collected by Jeju Island’s haenyeo, or female free divers, has been shown to lower insulin resistance and cholesterol levels. Distilling what she learned from her travels into her own “holistic approach to healing,” Bang recommends breathing exercises to reduce stress and walking after meals to prevent glucose spikes. A bounty of recipes for baesuk (a pear-based cold remedy), juk (porridge), and chicken and ginseng soup, among other dishes and drinks, will help readers implement the dietary guidance. A smart mix of travel writing and health advice, this hits the spot. (Feb.)