12 Amazing Health Benefits of Fermented Foods

Fermented Foods health benefits includes boosting immune system, maintaining healthy intestine, strengthening bones, supporting weight loss, a good source of fiber, increasing body energy, maintaining cholesterol level, ideal for diabetics, a source of antioxidants, contains probiotics, promotes food absorption, and support youthful skin.

Fermented foods are a natural source to obtain various nutrients. They can improve your overall health as these foods are a powerhouse of multiple components including probiotics, vitamin B complex, and dietary fiber.

Moreover, they are loaded with health benefiting bacteria that maintain your digestive system. In most parts of the world, these foods are consumed to promote digestion providing enzymes that help absorb nutrients.

For instance, when cucumbers and cabbage are fermented, the process breaks down the content of sugar found in the vegetable and promotes the right bacterial growth.

What is Fermentation?

It is done by utilizing microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria. It helps convert organic acids to anaerobic conditions or carbohydrates to alcohol. There are two significant types of fermentation; lactic acid and alcoholic-fermentation.

Alcoholic Fermentation

It is also known as ethanol fermentation. In the process, pyruvate obtained from glucose metabolism converts into carbon dioxide and ethanol via yeast and bacteria. It has been widely used to produce bread, beer, and wine.

Lactic Acid

Pyruvate molecules derived from glucose glycolysis later fermented till they turn into lactic acid.

Fermented Foods

Some of the fermented foods are part of certain cultures for centuries and are considered integral factor regarding their cuisines.

Moreover, various foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, buttermilk, raw yogurt, and pickles were part of ancient cultures that are still consumed widely. Some of the other famous fermented foods are:

• Natto
• Kombucha
• Miso
• Kimchi
• Probiotic Yogurt
• Tempeh
• Raw Cheese
• Kvass

12 Amazing Health Benefits of Fermented Foods

1. Boosts Immune System

Fermented foods are a safe and natural source when it comes to maintaining your immune system. Foods options like kefir, tempeh, and miso provide plenty of nutrients including antioxidants that function to strengthen your immunity. The process will ultimately result in protection against bacteria that contribute to debilitating health conditions.

2. Maintains Healthy Intestine

Consuming fermented foods is indeed an excellent source to obtain probiotics that facilitate the health of your overall body.

The probiotics function to form a protective lining in your intestines protecting it from the factors such as E. coli and salmonella. The healthy guts also play an essential role in promoting proper digestion.

3. Strengthens Bones

Most of these fermented foods are enriched with calcium. For instance, kefir is one of them; it can improve the condition of your bones.

Moreover, incorporating fermented buttermilk, raw cheese, and probiotic yogurt will not only promote bone density but will prevent the onset of osteoporosis as well.

4. Ideal for Weight Loss

Nutritionists have suggested that fermented food can become a healthy option for overweight people. They can benefit you in some ways including suppressing increased appetite.

These foods are loaded with dietary fiber that will facilitate your food cravings keeping you full for hours. The fermented food contains no cholesterol and sugar thus; you can consume miso, kimchi, kvass, etc. as much as you want.

5. A Source of Fiber

Nutritionists suggest that consuming the adequate quantity of dietary fiber regularly can prevent you from various stomach disorders including burning and inflammation.

In the category of fermented foods, sauerkraut contains the high content of fiber. Regular consumption of it can also help alleviate bloating and constipation. Apart from fiber, you can obtain moderate levels of vitamin A, B, and C as well.

6. Increases Body Energy

The high levels of energy are required to improve the quality of your life. You can maintain your energy levels via consumption of fermented foods.

Nutritionists recommend that incorporating kombucha into your diet can provide plenty of nutrients including vitamin B that help restore decrease energy combating factors that contribute to it.

However, in case of sudden fatigue and dizziness, consult with your primary care provider and refrain from self-medication.

7. Maintains Cholesterol Levels

Maintaining cholesterol levels without opting for medication is surely impressive; all you need is to consume fermented foods like tempeh in this regard.

You can reap vitamin B, protein, and fiber from it that function to reduce cholesterol build up in the blood vessels widening them. Regular consumption of tempeh is said to facilitate your overall heart health.

8. Ideal for Diabetics

Endocrinologists suggest controlling glucose levels in people with diabetes as it may contribute to worsening their health condition. You can consume kimchi in this context.

It is made by fermenting vegetables and contains no health-damaging property. Nutrients state consuming kimchi is not only nourishing for diabetics, but it can help maintain their body weight.

However, it is suggested to consult with your endocrinologist before opting for home remedies in case of Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes.

9. A Source of Antioxidants

Enriched with antioxidants, pickles are said to be useful regarding your well-being. When consumed regularly, these antioxidants fight disease-causing bacteria and germs. You can find various types of pickles at local markets, or you can prepare them at home as well.

Moreover, antioxidants are necessary to ward off major health-deteriorating factors such as free radicals that contribute to chronic diseases like cancer.

10. Contains Probiotics

Consuming fermented foods can become a safe source to consume probiotics. The latter is essential to promote gut health. It can facilitate the growth of good bacteria in your gut warding off the bad ones. You can find the adequate levels of probiotics in almost all the fermented foods.

11. Promotes Food Absorption

Nutritionists suggest that absorbing nutrients from the food you consume is necessary to encourage bodily functioning. Consuming fermented foods such as kefir, miso, and tempeh can help your body soak minerals and vitamins that you absorb via other food sources.

12. For Youthful Skin

Who does not dream to achieve the flawless and moisturized skin? You will be delighted to learn that it is no longer remained a fantasy. You can improve the condition of your skin via a variety of fermented foods as every option is a powerhouse of nourishing properties.

Nutritionists suggest that consuming yogurt can do wonder for your skin. It is one of the versatile foods that you can apply on face as well to get instant results. You can opt for various face packs containing yogurt as the main ingredient depending on your skin type.

These face packs are all natural and do not contain adverse effects. Therefore, regular application of the face masks can rejuvenate damaged skin cells leaving your skin smooth and subtle. Apart from this, you can incorporate miso, kefir, tempeh, kvass, etc. to delay the onset of aging.

Bottom Line

You may not find any adverse effect in the fermented foods. It is still suggested to opt for moderate consumption.