Eat Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are the digestive superheros for both gut and body because they are a rich source of:
- beneficial enzymes,
- B-vitamins,
- various strains of probiotics, and
- are a prebiotic.
 
Enzymes are very important for helping our body break down foods so we can access the nutrients. When we eat a mostly cooked or processed food diet, we are depleting our body’s supply of enzymes and putting pressure on our digestive organs to produce more than they should have to. 

We want to consume more B-vitamins because they are essential for producing stomach acid and maintaining muscle tone.  Deficiencies lead to less gastric secretions (the actual most common cause of heartburn and reflux), impaired digestion, and reduced appetite and intestinal mobility.

Probiotics are good bacteria that are required to keep our gut and body healthy. They break down food into bioavailable nutrients we can utilize, they build and synthesize nutrients for us, and they help our liver by breaking down many toxins.
 
Prebiotics are a type of fibre and are what feed and nourish our good bacteria! You can learn more about prebiotics here.
 
Natural fermentation breaks the food down to a more digestible form that also supports the good bacteria population. Try to experiment with different fermented foods and include them into your daily diet such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, brine pickles, miso, tempeh, apple cider vinegar, (unpasteurized) cheese, and yogurt.
 
If you are new to fermented foods and would like to give some a try, come to one of the monthly Fermented Foodies Culture Club socials. It’s an informal and fun way to sample and learn about these tasty treats!
 
Not local? You can also join our Facebook Group to share experiences, recipes and live cultures or the email list for news on upcoming events & workshops.  
 
PS Ready for a gut tune-up now? Don’t forget to check out my new Guts to Heal 7 Day Challenge, free for a limited time.