DON’T ALL FOODS SERVE A PURPOSE?
Our bodies are refueled and essential macro and micro nutrients are provided by foods!
Well, not all foods are “made” equal, hot dog anyone!
Our bodies are provided with nourishing nutrients and hundreds of beneficial probiotic bacteria by fermented foods, which support digestive functions, bowel movements, and immune health just to name a few.
The most common and readily available fermented foods include kefir, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, and yoghurt.
WHAT IS FERMENTATION?
Fermentation is the transformative action of micro-organisms on food.
Foods exposed to air will generally grow mold unless you’re a hot dog!
The food (generally vegetables) is deprived of oxygen during fermentation by being submerged in liquid. This altered environment allows beneficial bacteria to grow and proliferate while bad bacteria are inhibited from breeding.
ROLES FERMENTED FOODS PLAY WITHIN OUR BODY
While overall wellness is improved by fermented foods, more specific roles are played within the complex ecosystem of our body.
Fermentation allows foods to become more nutritionally dense and easier to digest.
The foods are partially pre-digested through the fermentation process.
Proteins are broken down into amino acids by fermentation, allowing them to be more readily absorbed by the digestive tract.
By taking the burden off the digestive tract, a larger amount of nutrients and minerals are absorbed and utilized. Enzymes are increased by fermentation since no heat is required, and heat causes vitamins and minerals to diminish.
It has been clearly discovered that approximately 80% of our immune system resides within our gut, which is why gut health is so vital to overall wellness.
An estimated 100 trillion beneficial microbes are housed in the gut! A probiotic supplement typically contains 8-12 different strains of beneficial bacteria; these are therapeutically important but become expensive and hard to maintain on a daily basis.
Fermented foods like sauerkraut contain a more diverse range of beneficial strains — approximately 100 different types living in an optimal environment, breeding into the billions.
Sauerkraut contains large amounts of B vitamins and glutathione, a potent intracellular antioxidant. This sulphur-based compound supports liver and kidney function and detoxification and helps draw out a wide range of heavy metals.
Mercury, lead, aluminum, and arsenate are isolated and bound by beneficial bacteria until they are excreted — down the toilet!
After antibiotic therapy, the gut flora is replaced and equilibrium restored through the therapeutically beneficial influence of fermented foods.
They are also great for treating yeast infections, supporting regulation of gut motility, helping relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and reducing bloating and gas.
Choosing the Right Fermented Foods
The maintenance of mucosal integrity can be assisted by fermented foods through regulating the inflammatory cascade and reducing food intolerances by supporting gut and immune health.
Anti-allergic activity is provided by fermented foods, which can help with inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, supporting immune function by creating an antagonistic environment for invading pathogens.
Our digestive system is kept in optimal health and our immune system in prime condition by fermented foods. Not only do they provide a tasty, flavorsome treat, but exceptional nutritional health benefits are also provided. Feel the improvements once fermented foods have been introduced into your daily diet.
Please check that any store-bought fermented food has not been pasteurized, as pasteurization kills the majority of beneficial probiotics, and you want all those little microorganisms to do their job!
Peace Love and Vegetables have a wonderful range of fermented foods available at selected Flannerys stores.
Research has demonstrated that the ideal balance of good and bad bacteria within our digestive tract is the foundation of mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
Just another reason fermented foods should be added to your daily diet!
