Whether it be Kimchi or Miso, Asians love eating fermented foods. And now the western world is also on board with eating fermented food. Now, if you are considering starting a healthy diet, we recommend you add some fermented foods to your diet.
What is Fermented Food?
Fermented foods are the backbone of many cuisines throughout the world and have been consumed for thousands of years. They include a wide variety of foods such as pieces of bread, cheeses, pickles, kinds of vinegar, sauerkraut, olives, and beer. By fermenting food items, you can preserve them for long periods without refrigeration or canning.
Food fermentation has two main types of microbial processes: aerobic and anaerobic. In aerobic fermentation more oxygen is available than in anaerobic fermentation which creates an environment less suitable for the growth of food-spoiling bacteria (also known as spoilage organisms).
If you’re looking for a way to eat healthier without drastically altering the way you cook or eat, try incorporating some fermented foods into your diet. Here are the top 5 reasons to try it out.
Fermented food is an easy, healthy, and tasty addition to your diet that will make your gut happy!
1) It has probiotics
Fermented foods contain live bacteria which can have positive effects on digestion. The most common types of this type of bacteria in fermented food are lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.
These probiotics help boost your immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and decreasing inflammation. They also improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract, which results in better nutrient absorption and better overall health.
2) It has prebiotics
Prebiotics are basically indigestible fibers that act as fuel to feed good bacteria in our gut. In other words, they encourage the growth of healthy bacteria. When we eat food with prebiotics, it’s like planting a garden for our gut flora – once it’s planted, we just have to water it now and then with more prebiotic foods (aka fermented food).
3) It has nutritional power
Fermented food is naturally rich in many essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, B complex vitamins, magnesium, zinc, iodine, and selenium.
4) It tastes great
Some people don’t like the taste of fermented food because they’ve only tried traditional pickled foods like sauerkraut. Fermented foods don’t have to be traditional. There are many that taste better and are more exciting! Common specialty fermented products include kefir, kombucha, kimchi, raw cheese (like yogurt cheese), beet kvass, or other vegetable juices (like carrot juice kvass), or even chocolate milk kefir.
Also read: 10 Probiotic Foods That Are Super Healthy to Try Out
