A Closer Look at the Benefits of Fermented Foods
Gut health is vital for overall health. Fermented foods can help balance your body!
The modern western diet consists of highly processed foods, sugars, and starches. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the items in your refrigerator; how many of them say “made with real cheese?” or, “made with real milk?” When you stop and think, it shouldn’t be acceptable to eat foods that are proudly proclaiming they are real. Processed foods wreak havoc on our digestive systems. Let’s take a look at how fermented foods can benefit your health, much like shilajit, another nutrient rich dietary supplement.
The Importance of a Healthy Gut
Have you ever heard of a microbiome? It is a community of bacteria within our gut that controls many of the functions of our body. In fact, microbiomes outnumber the cells in our body by 10 to one. Recent studies have shown that when your gut is out of balance, it can affect your brain function, mood, weight, and many other aspects of health. One way to balance the microbiomes in your body is by eating fermented foods, which replenish the bacteria and help our bodies to regulate the correct amount of bacteria for a healthy weight and functions.
A Definition of Fermented Foods
Fermented foods are vegetables and other types of food that have gone through a process called lactofermentation. This occurs when natural bacteria creates lactic acid by feeding on the starches and sugars in food. When a food is fermented, it acts as a preservative, and creates many strains of probiotics, enzymes, fatty acids, and vitamins, while preserving the nutrients. Additionally, it breaks the food down, which allows our bodies to digest it more easily.
Benefits of Fermented Food
There are many benefits to eating fermented food. People have been eating different various fermented items for thousands of years for multiple reasons. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits:
Better Digestion and Nutrient Absorption
Fermented foods aid a healthy digestion for two reasons:
- The food is broken down during the fermentation process, which makes it easier for us to digest.
- The fermentation process creates multiple strains of probiotics, which are essential for gut health.
Fermented foods help balance our guts. When our guts are healthy, the digestive enzymes help us to absorb more nutrients in the food we eat every day.
Shilajit & Fermented Foods: An Excellent Pair
When you have a healthy gut from eating fermented foods, and take shilajit (which is extremely rich in ionic minerals and vitamins), your body will be getting the nutrients it needs for optimism health. There are many types of fermented foods from which you can choose. They include:
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchee
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Kombucha
Often, you can make fermented foods at home, which is a great option. Canning these items for use throughout the year can save money and time. Additionally, fermented foods are delicious and can add a lot to your diet and meals. When used in combination with shilajit (which has many benefits for your digestion, metabolism, and assimilation of nutrients), fermented foods can greatly increase your health!
