Fermentation is the process through which a wide range of our daily treats is made. These include cheese, kombucha, yogurt, pickles, and more. And these foods and beverages aren’t just fun and delicious, they can provide a wide variety of benefits as well. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider making fermented foods a bigger part of your diet.
5 Reasons Why Fermented Foods Are Good For You:
1. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics
You may have heard the term “probiotic” tossed around. It refers to helpful bacteria and microorganisms that can be consumed in order to enhance our gut fauna. It turns out that the human body can’t really handle digestion on its own, so we have evolved to employ the help of these microorganisms during digestion. Probiotic is the term used to describe helpful microorganisms. The opposite of a probiotic is a pathogen, these are the harmful microorganisms we want to avoid.
The fermentation process is handled by various different probiotic microorganisms, which break down primary substances into the fermented goodies we are interested in. And as a result of this process, fermented foods are one of the best dietary sources of probiotics out there. However, in an article reviewed by Kimberly Langdon, a professor of medicine at Healthcanal, it is also mentioned that probiotics carry some risk of carrying harmful microorganisms. Thus, too many probiotics can lead to mild reactions like an upset stomach so watch out for the portion of fermented foods you eat.
2. Easier to digest
If you often suffer from digestive problems, fermented foods can be a good way to reduce the stress placed on your digestive system. That’s because the fermentation process already breaks some of the food down to its more basic elements, effectively starting the digestive process for you. This makes fermented foods easier to deal with once ingested.
Keep in mind that many digestive problems are caused by imbalances in the intestinal flora, which fermented foods can also help with.
3. Easy to make
Making your own fermented foods at home is relatively simple. There are plenty of guides on how to ferment vegetables or make jun Kombucha out there, and it’s also easy to find starter kits that contain all the tools and ingredients you need to start fermenting foods. Fermenting foods yourself can be more affordable than getting them from a store, and it’s just plain fun to do.
4. Prevent vitamin imbalances
One of the key roles of gut bacteria is to help your body synthesize some vitamins it can’t produce on its own. Without these bacteria present in your digestive system, you run the risk of developing vitamin deficiencies even when following a healthy and balanced diet. And having a healthy dose of fermented foods as part of your diet helps make sure these crucial bacteria will always be present in your system.
5. Recover from antibiotics
Antibiotics are wonderful inventions with life-saving applications, but they are not without consequence. One such consequence is that strong antibiotics will target helpful bacterias as well as harmful ones. As such, antibiotic treatments often cause gut flora imbalances, which can lead to all sorts of issues.
Not only can problems with your gut fauna lead to digestive issues, but gut imbalances have also been linked to a variety of other conditions. These include an increased risk of gaining weight and developing diabetes. And one of the ways to help your body recover after a round of antibiotics is to consume fermented foods.
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