4 Reasons why you Should eat more Fermented Foods

There are a ton of positive health benefits for our body from eating fermented foods. Many foods we eat are fermented and we may not realize it, and many foods can easily be taken through the fermentation process in your own home so you can do it yourself.

Food fermentation is when you convert carbohydrates to alcohol or organic acids using microorganisms (which can be yeasts or bacteria). Once foods are put through the fermentation process, they can provide more nutritional benefits for you.

What Are Examples of Fermented Foods

Food fermentation has been around since 6000 B.C. (and maybe even before that) and has stood the test of time.

Here are just some examples of fermented foods:

• Beer and Wine
• Vegetables
• Cheese
• Kombucha
• Salami
• Yogurt
• Sourdough Bread
• Olives
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Tempeh
• Natto

Once you find out what types of fermented foods you enjoy, you can start exploring fermented food recipes of your own so you can keep things fresh. There is a never-ending list of possibilities when it comes to fermented foods and you can really dive in once you get familiar with the topic.

Health Benefits of Eating Fermented Foods

As I’ve mentioned, foods that have been fermented offer the human body many health benefits. This natural process brings out nutrients that aren’t exposed before the fermentation process and can impact many different aspects of your life.

Digestion

When you regularly eat fermented food, probiotics will help your body balance the bacteria in your gut, which can eliminate other digestive issues. The probiotics might even impact irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), if it occurs regularly, and might even be able to eliminate it.

If you regularly suffer from gut problems, fermented foods can change your life for you.

Immune System

After you balance out the bacteria living in your gut, you will also be able to see positive changes with your immune system. The probiotics in fermented foods can boost your immune system and reduce the risk of common infections, whether it be a cold or much worse.

Fermented foods are also high in vitamin C, iron, and zinc. This makes fermented foods even more effective at fighting everyday infections that can plague you.

Break Down Foods

Certain people struggle to digest certain foods that are hard on their insides. The fermentation process will do the work in breaking down the nutrients in some foods so they are more easier to digest, while still holding the nutritional benefits.

Lactose is known to be hard to digest for many people, but the fermentation process can break it down into simple sugars that are easier to digest. If you have an intolerance to lactose, fermented foods can change your life.

Heart Health

The fermentation process of the foods you eat can help you lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

This is a major topic discussed among nutritionists and, while it’s not the most well-known benefit to fermenting your foods, it’s something to keep in mind when making the decision. Fermented foods are definitely beneficial for people who suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease.

Ready to Start Eating More Fermented Foods?

If you want to positively impact your personal health by eating more fermented foods, then you should consider learning how to do the process from your own home. There are a ton of great books about food fermentation for you to check out that can serve as a helpful guide for you.

Once you start learning more, you’ll begin to explore more fermented foods and the process included in creating your own. Soon you’ll be creating eating a ton of fermented foods that will positively impact your personal health.