Fermented foods have been ingested throughout time and across cultures. What began thousands of years ago as a means to conserve food is now comprehended to support the balance between the good and bad bacteria in the gut. It is so because fermented foods are the key to good health. So, what is fermentation? Well, fermentation or Lacto-fermentation is the procedure of utilizing bacteria or yeast to convert sugars, starches, carbohydrates, gas, acid, or alcohol.
One of the finest specimens is using yeast to leaven bread or lactic acid bacteria to conserve vegetables. The Lactic Acid Bacteria or LAB or Lactobacilli are present naturally on the surface of veggies and fruits. These bacteria, when present in an anaerobic or without oxygen atmosphere, feed on the starches and sugars present in the vegetables or fruits to produce lactic acid. After that, this lactic acid lowers the pH. As a result, it kills harmful or pathogenic bacteria while preserving the food without using chemicals, vinegar, or other preservatives.
Therefore, you can see that fermented food is a healthy habit that will help you to keep your health well. Besides, there are numerous other reasons too that demonstrate why you should consume fermented foods every day. The below list will give a detailed insight into those health reasons so that you can get started with some fermenting dishes from today.
Take in many beneficial bacteria.
As you might understand, all fermented food items are full of beneficial bacteria. As a result, when you consume these foods, you are introducing countless beneficial bacteria strains into your digestive system. These bacteria stay in your intestines, create vitamins, support the immune system, and crowd out pathogenic or disease-promoting bacteria. Not only this, but they also produce short-chain fatty acids to help maintain the cell lining integrity of your digestive tract. Therefore, it is a significant reason, why you should incorporate fermented foods into your eating habits.
Help in proper body functioning
Fermented foods are full of enzymes and probiotics. Due to this reason, they assist your body in digesting foods efficiently. Your body does not need to do much as the fermented items automatically break down in your body. Besides, the beneficial flora offered by these foods assists you with effective elimination, which is key to digestive health. Hence, it is one of the significant reasons for consuming fermented dishes each day.
Preserves food and source of valuable nutrients
As mentioned earlier, fermented foods have lactic acid. This acid is a natural preservative that works as a shield against the growth of harmful bacteria and also keeps food safe for longer. This ancient food preserving technique safeguards the nutrients in the food from spoiling and makes them more bioavailable to your body. Take cabbage, for example. Cabbage is a vital source of vitamin C. When you consume raw cabbage, it passes through the digestive tract undigested. As a result, you will not get much vitamin C. But when this raw cabbage is fermented, you will get enough vitamin C, and the food is also easy to absorb.
Boosts immunity
It is more or less clear that eating fermented foods offers numerous health benefits. Another benefit is that fermented food items help to enhance your immune function. When you consume fermented foods each day, you are less likely to get unhealthy or sick. These foods can work wonders to keep you feeling good, refreshed, and energetic all year long. Several fermented foods also eliminate allergic responses.
Reduce the risk of colon cancer
Another significant reason for consuming fermented food reduces colon cancer risk. Modern research has found that eating fermented foods often lowers the chances of developing colon cancer. It is because fermented food items consumption results in raised intestinal butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that is quintessential in feeding the cells that line the digestive tract. This Butyrate also prevents toxins from hurting your colon and supports your system to cleanse itself of those toxins. So, why not add these foods to your daily diet routine?
Get the taste of new flavors.
Probably one of the best reasons to consume fermenting foods is the range of flavors you can get and create. Every food item changes flavor at different times during the fermenting process. You can enjoy eating those foods and get the taste of new flavors. So, this is another reason why you should eat these foods regularly.
Affordability
One of the reasons why anyone can eat fermented foods is affordability. You can purchase many fermented foods at most food stores and some supermarkets without spending much. You can also prepare them at home with just a few ingredients, which is more money-saving.
Wrapping it up
To wrap it up, the above reasons are enough to determine why you should incorporate fermented foods into your daily eating routine. When you consume these foods, you will reap the above health benefits. After all, these foods are the key to your better health and well-being. So, if you still do not consume fermented foods, start to eat them now.