Uhm Jeong-hwa, 56, reveals diet secrets for a '30s physical age'

Singer and actress Uhm Jeong-hwa has revealed her personal diet management method that allows her to maintain excellent physical condition even at the age of 56. Rather than unconditionally cutting out carbohydrates or suppressing her favorite foods for a lifetime, her method involves controlling her diet normally while occasionally enjoying the foods she craves, followed by long intervals between meals.

On the episode of JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator since 2014' broadcast on the 9th, Uhm Jeong-hwa and lead actress Choi Sooyoung of the film 'Okay! Madam 2' appeared as guests.

Uhm Jeong-hwa, born in August 1969, drew attention by revealing that her physical age is in her 30s. As someone who has balanced stage performances and acting work for a long time, consistent self-management has been an important part of her daily life.

Indeed, when her refrigerator was revealed, Uhm's management habits were clearly visible. On one side of the refrigerator, various ingredients were placed alongside several types of sauces. Uhm explained, "They are all low-sugar. I love sauces."

She was also highly interested in choosing good ingredients herself. She mentioned that she visits farmers' markets to purchase ingredients whenever she has time.

The diet Uhm maintained for a long time was the Low-Carb High-Fat (LCHF) diet. She stated, "I did LCHF for a long time. When I switched to that diet, all my hormone balances and sleep quality improved."

However, she is currently managing her diet in a slightly different way. "These days, I do low-carb and low-sugar."

That does not mean she has completely cut out carbohydrates. When Kim Sung-joo asked if she doesn't eat rice, Uhm replied, "I do eat rice. It's not that I don't eat it at all, but I eat about 30% of the carbohydrates."

Rather than defining carbohydrates as an enemy, her method is to control the intake amount. When she craves noodles, she uses soy milk noodles. The fact that her refrigerator was full of low-sugar sauces was not unrelated to this diet.

However, Uhm does not live by strictly blocking all foods. Rather, her palate is quite honest. "I also love jajangmyeon very much. I like stimulating foods, but I hold back."

She manages her diet normally but does not eliminate the desire for her favorite foods. She revealed that she occasionally enjoys the foods she wants to eat through so-called 'cheating.'

Instead, Uhm has a rule following a cheat meal. "I do eat them occasionally. However, when I cheat, I maintain a fasting period of 18 to 20 hours."

She eats rice, and sometimes eats jajangmyeon. Instead, she explains that she returns to her usual eating rhythm by maintaining a long fasting period afterward.

What stands out in the diet management method revealed by Uhm is that it is closer to 'regulation' than 'prohibition.' While using low-sugar sauces and reducing carbohydrate intake, she does not completely cut out rice itself. Rather than unconditionally excluding favorite foods like jajangmyeon, she enjoys them occasionally. And after cheating, she balances it by maintaining an 18 to 20-hour fast.

However, long fasting periods or specific diets are not equally suitable for everyone. Eating methods can vary depending on an individual's health status and lifestyle patterns.

Nevertheless, the management method revealed by 56-year-old Uhm focused more on what she eats, how much she regulates, and how she returns to her routine, rather than simply 'what she does not eat.'

Uhm's self-management, having been active on stage and screen for a long time, ultimately appears to be closer to a long-term sustainable lifestyle habit rather than extreme fasting.