Why should I eat more fermented foods?

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Why should I eat more fermented foods?
Thanks for asking. Each year, International Beer Day is celebrated on the first Friday of August.
As you may know, beer is produced using only four ingredients, water, hops, malt and yeast, through a process called fermentation. Of course, beer is harmful in the excessive quantities, but don't let that give you any misconceptions about fermented foods. Generally speaking, they play an important role in boosting gut health. There are many other alcohol-free alternatives too, if you're looking for a fermented beverage. These include kombucha, a fermented tea which contains B vitamins and vitamin C, and kefir which is a kind of fermented milk. Some of the most well-known fermented foods are sauerkraut and kimchi. More and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of fermentation as a healthy preparation and preservation technique. Boosted by the growth in home cooking, many people have jumped on the bandwagon and started baking their own sourdough bread or preparing fermented vegetables in their kitchen. Dedicated retailers and supermarket ranges have also sprung up.
How do fermented foods interact with our bodies? They increase bacteria diversity and therefore help maintain a healthy balance in our intestinal flora. Fermented foods are known for being more digestible and better preserving minerals. They're referred to as living food because of the live microbes and probiotics they contain. If you think about tinned or jarred food in comparison, the pasteurization or sterilization process kills off all bacteria, regardless of whether they're good or bad. That means you miss out on certain benefits. How does fermentation actually work? It's a natural metabolic process which has been used since ancient times. Fermented foods and drinks are transformed thanks to microorganisms like yeast and bacteria. They break down food components like starch and sugar, and turn them into other products like organic acids, gases or alcohol. Most foods can actually be fermented. Popular choices include cereals, legumes and vegetables. Even if they're already nutritious in their original form, fermentation can bring additional health benefits.
That's particularly true when the foods contain probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are often referred to as healthy bacteria. They're microbes that we eat and contribute to very rich fermented foods. Meanwhile, prebiotics are ingredients that the microorganisms in our bodies themselves eat. How can I get started producing home made fermented foods? Make sure you sterilize your jars to make sure you don't end up with the wrong kind of bacteria growing. You should also follow instructions carefully, as they can vary significantly depending on what food you're fermenting. For example, some foods require the presence of oxygen during fermentation, whereas others don't.
There you have it.
Now you know why you should eat more fermented foods. In under three minutes, we answer your questions. What would you like to know about? Use the comment section to send us your questions.