What are fermented foods?
Fermented foods are foods and beverages produced using controlled microbial growth and fermentation.
Fermentation is an anaerobic process where microbes break down food components into other substances over time. For example, kombucha relies on fermentation to transform compounds in tea into a flavorful, bubbly probiotic beverage. There are thousands of other types of fermented foods, including kimchi, miso, tempeh, wine, and beer.
Why would you eat fermented foods? Well, why wouldn't you? Fermentation creates all kinds of delicious foods that add acidity, bubbles, complexity, and a range of flavors.
In addition to the taste, fermented foods are really good for your health:
Fermentation usually produces probiotics in the resulting food or beverage, which are beneficial for your gut health.
Fermented foods offer many important health benefits, including:
What are the benefits of fermented foods?
Fermentation has many health benefits, including the following:
Improves Digestive Health
Fermentation helps restore the balance between healthy bacteria in your gut with the probiotics produced. For this reason, adding fermented foods to your regular diet is great if you experience gut issues.
Boosts Immune System
As you know, fermented foods have a lot of probiotics, and consuming probiotic-rich foods may help you recover faster when you're ill. Fermented foods are also rich in nutrients, such as vitamin C, iron, zinc, and antioxidants, which can strengthen your immunity.
Easier to Digest
During the fermentation process, the nutrients in the food are broken down, making them easier to digest.
May Support Heart Health
Incorporating fermented foods into your daily diet appears to be associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
May Be Ideal for Weight Loss
Many nutritionists recommend fermented foods for overweight people. These foods are full of dietary fiber, which can keep you feeling full for longer.
May Improve Your Mood
Some types of probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacteria longum found in fermented foods, can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.