Top 3 Benefits from Eating Fermented Foods

We are not only surrounded by bacteria in our environment; but in a very real way, we are bacteria. Did you know there are more organisms in and on your body than cells that make up your body? Think about that for a minute. You are made up of more things that aren’t you than are you by a ratio of 100 to 1! You are a complex ecosystem that is made up of more than 100 trillion microbes.

These microbes that must be properly balanced and cared for if we want to be healthy. All the microbes living on our skin, in our mouth and nose, and throughout our entire digestive tract make up who we are. Each one of us is unique because of the microbes that inhabit us!

This microbiome is different in everyone. These differences are based on factors such as diet, lifestyle, health history, geographic location, and even ancestry. We would be nothing without our microbiome. These organisms are essential for many important functions of our body, including supplying critical vitamins to fight invading pathogens, regulation of metabolism, proper digestion and absorption of the food we eat, it even helps control how our genes express themselves.

Even though our microbiome controls our health and even our mood. We can optimize the environment of these microbes by feeding them a nutritious diet and practicing healthy lifestyle habits. We have control over which bacteria have the upper hand, health-promoting ones or disease-causing ones.

How to Feed Health-Promoting Microbes

One of the most effective ways to keep the balance between health- promoting bacteria and the disease-causing type is by eating foods that are high in beneficial bacteria called probiotics and gut microbe feeding foods called prebiotics. Traditional fermented foods are loaded with lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria act as a natural preservative and inhibit putrefying bacteria from rotting the food.

Fermenmted foods have been eaten since ancient times. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Roman, Russian and many other European countries have specific fermented foods that are part of their traditional culture. Soy is fermented to become miso, wheat is fermented to become sourdough, cabbage is fermented to become kimchi and sauerkraut, milk is fermented to become kefir and yogurt, and the list goes on and on.

Top 3 Benefits from eating fermented foods.

Fermented foods will improve your digestion.

The fermentation process begins digestion for us and allows the nutrients from these foods to be more easily absorbed by our bodies.

The fermentation process preserves food without nutrient loss.

Fermented homemade salsa, sauerkraut, pickles and carrots can be stored for long periods of time without loosing their nutrient content unlike modern canning and food preservation methods.

Fermented foods boost your immune function.

Fermented foods are active probiotic armies that work to balance gut bacteria. 70% of your immune system is in your gut, so when it is healthy and balanced you will have the ability to fight disease and illness.

Created Your Own Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are all the rage lately, you can find them at the local farmers market, and even at the supermarket. Did you know you can make your own in about as much time as it takes to pick some up at the store and it will cost less than half the price! There are even added health benefits for fermenting foods in your own home.

I have been fermenting foods for over a decade now. I want to share some of my favorite recipes along with my favorite way to eat fermented foods.

Find my Fermented Food Recipe eBook on our SHOP page and get started experiencing the benefits of creating and eating your own homemade fermented foods.