Is fermented food healthy ?

As the trends are changing people are getting more health conscious in order to stay fit and active in their daily life. But sometimes it's difficult for everyone to know what are the healthy food Trends that will help in healthy living.

Fermented food and beverage are becoming increasingly popular. You can find sourdough bread in cafe kombucha on tap in bar and more Variety of yoghurt, and kimchi in your local supermarket.

Fermented food are increasingly recognised as benificial for health. They are also considered as ‘Functional food' which means they have additional health benifit beyond supplying basic. And did you know that fermented food may also be good for mental health.

Fermented food have been part of human diet for centuries and were initially produced as a way to preserve food, improve flavour and eliminate food toxins. Today we will discuss benifits of consuming fermented food, but before let us understand what are fermented food.

What are fermented food?

Fermentation is process as old as cellular activity. This is a chemical process which involves the consumption of carbohydrates such as starch and glucose in absence of oxygen to create organic acids, gases and alcohol. This gives fermented food their unique and desirable taste, aroma, texture and appearance.

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the most common occuring bacteria type in  fermentation and both are recognised as proboitic.

What is probiotic?

Proboitic bacteria are considered as ‘good' or ‘friendly' bacteria for gut. Proboitic are formally defined as microorganisms that contribute to improving host health when administered in adequate quantities.

Several other benifits of proboitic bacteria are supporting organ health (eg - lungs, reproductive, skin) but there are no effective evidence today that all proboitic have these effect.

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are food ingredients that the microorganisms in your body (e.g. gut bacteria) use or ‘feed’ on to grow and live, leading to health benefits . The most reported and researched prebiotics to have documented health benefits in humans are the non-digestible oligosaccharides fructans and galactans. 

Good sources of these include:

• garlic
• onions
• wheat
• chicory
• tomato
• barley
• honey
• milk (human and cow’s milk).

What are the benefits of fermented foods? 

Fermented foods have historically been valued for their improved shelf life and unique taste, aroma, texture and appearance. They also allow us to consume inedible foods. For example, table olives must be fermented in order to remove their bitter-tasting phenolic compounds.

Helps keep your immune system healthy:-

80% of your immune system resides in your gut.  A healthy gut = a healthy immune system. Adding fermented foods to your diet will help ensure a healthy gut. Consuming proboitic fermented foods can give your immune system a boost and reduce your risk of infections like the common cold. And many fermented foods are rich in vitamin C, iron, and zinc — all of which are proven to contribute to a stronger immune system.

Makes food more digestible:-

Fermentation helps break down nutrients in food, making them easier to digest than their unfermented counterparts. Because the bacteria predigests the food, the resulting product is easier to digest.  fermentation helps break down and destroy antinutrients — such as phytates and lectins — which are compounds found in seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes that interfere with the nutrient absorption.  If you have trouble digesting raw fruits and vegetables, fermentation may be helpful for you.

Improves Digestive Health:-

The probiotics produced during fermentation can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in your gut and may alleviate some digestive problems.

Evidence suggests that probiotics can reduce uncomfortable symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common digestive disorders.

What’s more, fermented foods may also lessen the severity of diarrhoea, bloating, gas, and constipation. For these reasons, adding fermented foods to your diet may be useful if you regularly experience gut issues.

Increases flavour of foods:-

 It can make food pleasantly sour or tangy, and develops flavour. Even vanilla and chocolate owe their characteristic flavours to fermentation. Beside adding flavour some bacteria can increase levels of vitamins in food, especially B vitamins.

Foods that are tough, difficult to digest or unpalatable raw can be improved by fermentation, reducing the need for cooking and fuel.

Weight loss:-

 While more research is needed, some studies have found links between certain probiotic strains - including Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus gasseri - and weight loss and decreased belly fat

By promoting friendly intestinal bacteria, fermented foods help…

• Aid digestion.
• Support immune function.
• Increase B vitamins (even Vitamin B12).
• Facilitate omega-3 fatty acids.
• Produce digestive enzymes, lactase and lactic acid.
• Fight off harmful bacteria and even cancer cells.
• Expel toxins and heavy metals from cell tissue.

Now you know another secrets of having a healthy Life and for a body. I hope you found this information useful. And if you like my information follow us and subscribe to our blog via email and we will mail you everytime we post something new.

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