Do you eat fermented foods? Do you know WHY you should eat them fermented foods? I had NO idea until I started learning about GUT health and WHY it’s SO important!
In the past 5 or so years they’ve learned a whole lot more about the gut-brain connection, about our gut microbiome, and the importance of balancing the good and bad bacteria that live in your gut.
A healthy gut microbiome can support a healthy immune system, improve brain function, and determine the health of your body. Hippocrates said “All Disease Begins in The Gut” and they’re finding out that it’s totally true!
Did you know that when you take a round of antibiotics it kills all the bacteria in your gut, the good and the bad? It then takes time to replenish those guys and gals! And it’s SOOOOO very important to replenish the bacteria in your gut.
I am working on balancing my gut bacteria because even as well as I eat the MAJORITY of the time, all the great things I do, I still have some leaky gut going on. HOW do I know this?
I had a nutrition panel done AND a stool test done. Had I not had those things I’d never have known that I had leaky gut and that I was nutrient deficient – which is a BIGGER problem than we realize.
SO – I went to the fermenting class at my CSA farm with the awesome fermenting experts Dawn and Brian from Farmsted Ferments which is here in the area where I live.
Here are just a few reasons to start eating fermented foods(which FYI are SUPER easy to make at home yourself AND inexpensive!!)
????They’re abundant in beneficial bacteria – when you eat them you’re introducing different and beneficial strains of good bacteria into your digestive system. The more diverse the bacteria in your gut the better.
These good bacteria produce vitamins, strengthen your immune system, and crowd out pathogenic or disease promoting bacteria(the bad guys) and help balance your gut flora
????Fermentation preserves food and nutrients – fermentation stops the nutrients from degrading and actually makes them more bioavailable to the body – it’s actually easier for your body to digest and absorb the nutrients
????Enhances the Immune System – 80% of your immune system is located in your gut(that’s from beginning to end of your intestines) When you have MORE good bacteria than bad, you’re better able to fight off infections and lower inflammation(the root of almost all diseases)
????Affordable! You CAN buy fermented foods at your grocery or natural food store BUT you can EASILY make it yourself too! It’s inexpensive and easy to do!
????Improves digestion and gut health – since fermented foods have tons of digestive enzymes they help you break down your food better. So it’s great to eat them with your meal. If you’ve heard of digestive enzymes that people take with their meal(I do this!) those are to HELP us break down our food better so that our body can absorb all the nutrition better.
As we age we lose enzymes and if you’re not eating a bunch of raw food you’re not getting enzymes, so you probably aren’t absorbing all the nutrients that you think. I know that I obviously wasn’t!! And I eat really healthy!
When eating fermented foods you want to eat a variety. The reason for this is because the more diverse your gut bacteria the better for your health.
Watch for another post where I’ll show you how I made my fermented cabbage blend. It’s really super easy, super inexpensive, and SOOOOO good for you, PLUS it tastes great!
If I CAN do it – so can you!
Wishing you HEALTH and HAPPINESS!
Risa
