Have You Heard about the Benefits of Fermented Foods?
Fermented foods greatly assist the gut by strengthening the lining of the digestive tract. Eighty percent of the immune system is made in the gut, so they also help to keep us healthy. Fermented foods contain natural probiotics and are a perfect way to help keep the good bacteria thriving. They create lactic acid that kills pathogens. Good bacteria crowd out the bad bacteria such as candida. Candida, or yeast, can become overgrown and cause a myriad of physical and behavioral problems.
What Are Fermented Foods?
Fermented foods are foods that have been soaked in salt, spices, water, and a probiotic starter. Fermentation foods are predigested, so they help make food easier to digest. They offer beneficial probiotic microbes, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Many foods can be fermented such as grains, vegetables, fish, and dairy. Salt stops the harmful microbes that can spoil food, so we see fermentation as a method to preserve before canning existed.
What Are Fermented Food Sources?
The most commonly known fermented food sources are from dairy. Most people think of yogurt, sour cream, and kefir as top choices. Homemade products are best. Beware of commercially made yogurt because pasteurization destroys many of the natural nutrients and enzymes you need. They also are known to contain a lot of sugar. The fermentation will help predigest some of the proteins and consume lactose in dairy products.
Fermented vegetables and grains are more tolerated by the digestive tract. Click Here for DIY Recipe. The bacteria from fermented vegetables also help with detoxification. Any vegetable can be fermented. Additionally, anything that increases the good bacteria in the gut will help to fight the bad. Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage and is one of the oldest known sources.
Only small amounts of fermented foods are necessary for positive results. In fact, if you have a lot of candida overgrowth and you eat too much, the candida may die off so quickly that it can cause you extreme fatigue, headaches, and flu-like symptoms. Just a tablespoon or two per day in the beginning may be enough for positive benefits without any negative reactions. Read more about candida and die off reactions.
There are natural, food-based, fermented supplements which are also available, and can help with detoxification. Many recipes can be found online on sites such as, http://nourishedkitchen.com/fermented-foods-for-gut-health/.