The Benefits Of Fermented Foods

• April 25, 2016

Fermented food has been a staple in many different culture’s diets. From sauerkraut to yoghurts, these foods offer a range of health benefits that have been widely overlooked.
So what is a fermented food and why are they so good for you?

Fermented foods have undergone a process in which natural bacteria feed of the sugar or starch in a food. This process not only preserves the food but it creates beneficial enzymes, vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and various strains of probiotics. They have also been shown to help break food down to a more nutrient rich and easily digestible form, improving digestion and increasing the levels of good bacteria in your gut.

However, as food and technology have become increasingly intertwined we have lost touch with this traditional form of food preparation. But new research and a growing interest in the importance of the microbiome has brought new interest into this process.

If you have digestive issues, eating fermented foods or taking natural probiotics can really improve your symptoms. Taking antibiotics can strip your gut of essential good bacteria, increasing your intake of fermented food can help in repopulating the gut with these beneficial ‘bugs’.

So why not try and work some more of this food into your diet? There are heaps of options out there and you can incorporate small portions into your meals easily. You can make your own or start with some of the fermented products that we stock.