Lee Young-ja Feels Body Warm Up After Eating Octopus and Winter Melon Soup

Broadcaster Lee Young-ja, 58, reported feeling her body warm up after consuming a traditional octopus and winter melon soup, known as yeonpotang, according to an article published by health.chosun.com.

The Science of Dietary Thermogenesis in Octopus Soup

While individual reactions to meals vary, the sensation of internal warmth following food consumption has a recognized physiological basis. The process, known as diet-induced thermogenesis, occurs as the body expends energy to digest, absorb, and metabolize nutrients, releasing heat in the process. Protein-rich foods exhibit a higher thermic effect than carbohydrates or fats, meaning they stimulate greater heat production during processing. A comprehensive meta-analysis of 52 studies published in the 2024 international journal Advances in Nutrition demonstrated that high-protein meals produce significantly higher diet-induced thermogenesis compared to low-protein meals, making the octopus in the soup a logical contributor to that warming sensation, health.chosun.com reported.

When core body temperature rises, the body responds by dilating peripheral blood vessels to dissipate excess heat. This vascular expansion increases blood flow to the skin, which can produce a warm or flushed feeling in the hands and face. However, health.chosun.com noted that this represents a temporary temperature-regulation response rather than evidence that a specific food permanently improves overall blood circulation.

Nutritional Profile of Winter Melon and Octopus

Beyond its protein content, octopus provides significant levels of taurine, a compound that supports normal cardiac and muscular function while assisting bile acid in fat digestion and absorption. The seafood ingredient also supplies antioxidant properties that protect cells from oxidative stress, alongside essential minerals such as iron and zinc. The accompanying winter melon contributes high water volume and low caloric density to the dish. A review published in the 2022 international journal Frontiers in Nutrition noted that winter melon consists of approximately 96 percent water, yielding about 14 kilocalories per 100 grams while delivering potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. The potassium content assists with sodium excretion and blood pressure maintenance, while the dietary fiber supports bowel regularity, health.chosun.com reported.