Fermented Foods and What They Do!

You know that thing we call kombucha some of us know and love and wonder why it is so good for us? Well, it’s done through a thing called fermentation which also gives you other benefits like probiotics. These work together and help our digestive system, we frequently hear about them usually by the yogurt we choose and that one ingredient on the list called lactobacillus.

What is a Probiotic? It is a healthy bacteria that help us pre-digest our food properly. It can clear toxicity and fight inflammation.

Then what is a Prebiotic? It is a gut fertilizer that helps good bacteria to grow.

These terms are important because you always want your microbiome to be as healthy as possible. After all, any bad bacteria or viruses will first contact through your gut. A healthy gut is what helps us in so many ways one from excreting, to proper digestion and thinking clearly. An adequate microflora will help your intestinal tract and a good way to help with that is chlorophyll, all you need is a couple of drops in your water and it can aid with purification in your blood and clear out toxins. Back to kombucha and why it is good for you, it helps to regulate gut issues but there are a few concerns that come with drinking kombucha just like many other foods. Some kombucha brands are mostly sugar which would cause more dampness in the body and many of these drinks have 2 servings in a bottle and most people drink the whole thing so then you’re digesting more than your body needs.

Probiotics and fermented foods work together which can regulate your gut, reset gut issues, and keep it balanced. If you don't have good gut health and if not nourished properly then the gastrointestinal tract will not be clean and that is what causes brain fog. Most people will take a probiotic supplement sometime in their life and the one I take is a raw women’s health probiotic by Garden of Life, but keep in mind these are strong bacteria that are enclosed in these capsules. Be aware when buying probiotic supplements that you are getting ones packed in a glass bottle instead of plastic because the toxins in the plastic can leech into the probiotics you are ingesting. The plastic bottles may be a little cheaper than the ones in glass, and the raw capsules will have to be refrigerated but they will be better for your overall health.

Now we get to the point we started with fermentation and why it is linked to probiotics. What is Fermentation? The New Oxford American Dictionary defined it as “The chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts, or other microorganisms, typically involving effervescence and the giving off of eating.” Fermented foods are usually very pungent in taste, have a strong vinegary smell, and need some getting used to but very good for gut health. Pickles are a good starter vegetable to ferment but other good options are daikon radish, sauerkraut, jalapeños, and cauliflower. The upside of making your pickles is that unless you add sugar to some of your picklings, they will not have hidden sugars such as store-bought ones, and those can harm your overall gut health.

Here are some foods that are good for healing your stomach with good bacteria and will keep your intestinal tract up to par.

Kombucha: Some great brands are GT’s, Rowdy Mermaid, and HealthAde

Kimchi: Fermented cabbage if you want to make your own, if not wild brine makes a good alternative that you can pick up from your local supermarket. For a quick meal, you can put a spoonful on a bowl of white rice and a fried egg.

Pickled Vegetables: You can pickle many vegetables such as daikon, radish, beets, carrots, and jalapeños. You can buy store-bought as well but it’s easy to make from home, just takes a little more time.

Pickles: They are just a pickled cucumber but are high quality if made at home. Bubbie’s pickles make a good fermented option that you can use the brine for your next homemade batch.

Sauerkraut: Fermented Cabbage with light spices, unlike kimchi. Easy to make at home, Eden Organic also sells a jar that you can find at most health food stores.

Miso: Fermented soybean paste great for broths. Make sure when buying that you are choosing organic non-GMO soybeans. Easy to make a simple miso dressing at home.

Yogurt: Make sure it is of good quality dairy and has all the good bacteria with low sugar content. GT’s makes a good fermented coconut yogurt and low in a sugar called Cocoyo.

Tempeh: Fermented soybeans that are pressed into a block that you can stir fry, bake or sauté. Make sure they are organic, sprouted, and non-GMO soybeans.