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Have you ever wondered why fermented foods are celebrated in so many cultures around the world?
They can be tangy to our taste buds and yet are flavourful ! Apart from their taste , they bring an array of health benefits that would surprise you to your table.
Let’s dive into why you should be adding more kimchi, yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh , kvass, locust beans ( ๐ฐ๐๐) and miso etc to your diet!
๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฌ๐จ๐ณ๐ป๐ฏ: Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that help maintain a healthy gut microbiome. A balanced gut can improve digestion, reduce bloating, and enhance nutrient absorption. They are a very important part of our bodyโs natural defence systems .
๐ฏ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ถ๐บ๐ป๐บ ๐ฐ๐ด๐ด๐ผ๐ต๐ฐ๐ป๐ : A healthy gut is closely linked to a strong immune system considering the fact that about 70% of our immune system is located in our GUT! Regular consumption of probiotics can help stave off infections and illnesses by powering up your body’s natural defenses.
๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ด๐ท๐น๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฌ๐บ ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐บ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต: Fermentation pre-digests food, breaking down complex carbohydrates into simpler compounds. This makes fermented foods easier to digest, and can alleviate digestive issues like IBS and lactose intolerance. The PROBIOTICS in them have been associated improvements in our digestion
๐ฏ ๐ด๐ถ๐ถ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ต๐ฏ๐จ๐ต๐ช๐ฌ๐ด๐ฌ๐ต๐ป :There is a powerful ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ป-๐ฉ๐น๐จ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ช๐ถ๐ต๐ต๐ฌ๐ช๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต! Believe it or not, your gut health can impact your mental well-being. How ? A thriving healthy populous gut microbiome is linked to the production of neurotransmitters like ๐บ๐ฌ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ต๐ฐ๐ต, often referred to as the “๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ”( happy) hormone. Regular consumption of fermented foods may help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress levels
๐ฏ ๐พ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ป ๐ด๐จ๐ต๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ด๐ฌ๐ต๐ป:Fermented foods can help regulate your appetite and reduce cravings by promoting feelings of fullness. They can also aid in balanced blood sugar levels, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Remember that obesity plays a key role in chronic diseases
๐ฏ ๐ฌ๐ต๐ฏ๐จ๐ต๐ช๐ฌ๐ซ ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ต๐ป ๐จ๐ฉ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ท๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต:A major reason why a lot of people suffer from nutritional deficiencies is the inability to absorb enough nutrients from food . Fermented foods can increase the bioavailability of vitamins and minerals. The probiotics in them help improve GUT lining . For example, fermented dairy products can enhance calcium absorption, promoting stronger bones and teeth. Plus, the fermentation process can create new nutrients, like B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids
๐ฏ ๐ช๐จ๐น๐ซ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐จ๐บ๐ช๐ผ๐ณ๐จ๐น ๐ฏ๐ฌ๐จ๐ณ๐ป๐ฏ
This is just amazing ! Certain fermented foods, like kimchi, have been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, contributing to improved heart health. Iโm a study in 100 people , it was discovered eating 0.5 -7.6 oz ) 15-210 gm) of kimchi daily significantly decreased blood sugar, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels . The probiotics in these foods can also reduce inflammation, which is a risk factor for heart disease
Itโs time to start adding them to your daily diet
More examples of fermented foods :
Kombucha
Pickles
Natto
Raw cheese
Apple cider vinegar ( ACV) : always buy the one with the mother and organic where possible
Sourdough bread
Coconut kefir
Cottage cheese
I am a certified Nutritionist and Nutritional Therapist
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