Fermented Foods and Living Bacteria – Why Our Body Needs Probiotics

Food fermentation has been known to people for centuries – as evidence suggests, humans have been fermenting drinks and foods as far as 10.000 BC. Before the refrigerator was invented, people had to somehow keep the food fresh even during winter months, as they wouldn’t be able to survive without it.

However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the health benefits of fermented food were discovered. Did your grandparents or parents feed you yogurt or sauerkraut when you were younger and got sick? If yes, then you got to experience them firsthand.

Fermented foods help us stay healthy and recover faster because of the bacteria present in them. But why and how does it happen?

What is Fermentation?

Long story short, fermentation is a process through which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria convert carbohydrates into alcohols and acids, which work as natural preservatives. That’s why we can make wine using grapes and sugar. But fermentation of other fruits and vegetables can promote the growth of the particular kind of bacteria known as probiotics.

It is estimated that 100 trillion microorganisms representing more than 500 different species live in our bowels. When you “lose” some of them, for instance, due to antibiotics, you lose the balance and become more susceptible to some diseases.

However, probiotics can do more than just keep our bacteria on the right level. Some scientists claim that they help us lose weight, as some of the best probiotic foods for weight loss are also known for being beneficial to our health. This means that you can kill two birds with one stone. You can find out more about the topic of supplements on betterbody.co.

How Do Probiotics Work?

To simplify, we will call the bacteria present in our body the “good” bacteria and the ones which cause us to become ill – the “bad” bacteria.

As it was said before, one of their jobs is to keep the balance in our body. We encounter harmful bacteria every day, but we don’t usually get sick. Why? It’s all because the good bacteria fight them off. Their main weapon is creating acids and changing the pH in the intestines. It causes the environment to become more hostile to bad bacteria and helps restore the balance. Some strains of good bacteria have different effects on the body.

Lactobacillus is the most common probiotic that can be found in milk-based products. It acts as an armour of the gut. It protects our body from chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases. Some strains can help stop diarrhea and may help people with lactose intolerance. What’s more, the lactobacillus helps with feeding the other good bacteria.

For the past few years, Bifidobacterium has gained some media attention being potentially beneficial for our health. It can create compounds like vitamins, fatty acids, and organic acids while continually fighting off other bacterias. It can be helpful with the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. In newborns, it is proven to work with treating various skin conditions, yeast infections, lactose intolerance, and in some cases – cancer.

Saccharomyces Boulardii is a yeast functioning as a probiotic. It is irreplaceable when it comes to fighting rotavirus infections in children. It can efficiently stop diarrhea and, as a result, prevent dehydration. Like most probiotics, it can help treat Lyme disease, Crohn’s disease, and other bowel-related illnesses.

Best Foods That Contain Probiotics

Probiotics can be taken daily in the form of pills, but in case they weren’t prescribed by a doctor, it is not advisable to take them on a regular basis. There are plenty of different ways to deliver them to your body. Most fermented foods contain them, and additionally, they can provide lots of other vitamins to your body.

Sometimes, the hard part is to find something that will suit your taste. All of them are really strong tasting, and it can be hard to eat bigger portions for people who are not used to food like this. Fortunately, there are so many different types so that everyone can find at least one to love. The most popular fermented foods and beverages include:

• Sauerkraut
• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Miso
• Kimchi
• Tempeh
• Kombucha
• Pickles
• Buttermilk
• Natto
• Some types of cheese
• Lassi

Yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, lassi, and cheese may be good for our digestive system, but only if we can tolerate lactose. More and more people, especially older ones, can’t have any dairy products in their diet. That’s when miso, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, tempeh, and natto come to aid. These are made using only vegan ingredients, so they will be safe for almost any diet.

The Bottom Line

Fermented foods are incredibly healthy for us. They are a natural vitamin bomb that anyone can make. They are also inexpensive so that everyone can include them in the diet. Most of them are vegan-friendly and can be eaten for every meal.

In the morning, you can try yogurt or kefir with fruits and oats. Pickles or sauerkraut will be a fantastic addition to dinner, no matter if it’s vegetarian or meat-based, and in the evening, you can always sit with some friends and serve home-made kombucha. We can guarantee that it will be a hit among others. This way, you can try new things, eat tastily and be healthy!