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Benefits of Fermented Foods
Alicia Kaluza, MS, RD, LN and Julie Walker, Revitalize Staff
Fermented foods are all the buzz lately. Even though they’ve been around since ancient times, their popularity in the U.S. has been increasing in recent years. They’ve been popular in Asian countries for centuries. They are becoming popular because of new studies surrounding gut health, the gut biome, and digestion. Researchers are beginning to link the bacteria in our intestines to health conditions, including obesity, our immune system, mental health, skin conditions, and cancer. The focus on improving gut health has led to the popularity of fermented foods. Fermented foods to consider include: kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, cheese, kombucha, miso, kimchi, salami, yogurt, sourdough bread, and olives. Sauerkraut, cheese, salami, yogurt, and sourdough are probably familiar to you, so following is an explanation of the other foods, and how to try them.