What are fermented foods?
Fermented foods or ‘cultured foods’ are created by a fermentation process that includes the use of bacteria such as lactobacillus in the making of foods.
What are their benefits?
- High in probiotics: Fermented foods contain a ton of healthy probiotics, which supports your intestinal tract and immune system. A healthy intestinal bacteria balance supports our physical bodies, mental health and overall wellbeing.
- High in Nutrients: Fermentation with lactic acid bacteria increases the nutritive value of foods and increases the absorption of protein and minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and copper.
- Detoxifier: Fermented foods can have chelating affects on the body and the ‘good’ bacteria are helpful detoxifiers as well which can help with removing toxins and even heavy metals.
- Money Saver: Making your own variety of fermented foods can be easy and you receive not only a pile of good bacteria but you also can get high doses of beneficial bacteria vs having to buy supplements.
Added Bonus..
Research has noted a long list of health conditions that may be helped by consuming fermented foods (foods that contain lactic acid bacteria) including: colitis, constipation, diarrhea, gas, gastric reflux and heartburn, Chron’s disease, gum disease and high cholesterol.
Recent studies have actually showed a positive effect of probiotics on autism, obesity, Diabetes I and II, autoimmune diseases, liver, kidney and bladder function and cancer.
Examples of fermented foods:
Organic yoghurt, Kefir (similar to yoghurt), kefir coconut water, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut and kombucha!
Your turn:
Try this easy to make coconut kefir water recipe!
You can purchase coconut kefir grains or simply use a couple high quality probiotic supplement to make this drink. Make sure that you use glass jars to store the coconut water and have everything very clean and sterile.
Check it out: coconut water recipe
You can also use high quality canned coconut water as well to make this drink. I have done this and it worked out great.
Eventually I will make some more coconut kefir water and I will share some pics! ?
Have you made fermented foods before? If you have, what have you made?
Heck ya to fermented foods,
Resources: Nutritional Symptomatology
