Whether you include a side dish of sauerkraut with your meal or a helping of kimchi, you’ll be doing your body a favor. Fermented foods make you healthier because it boosts your digestive system and ultimately, that creates a stronger immune system. The process of fermentation is part of the reason. The bacteria in fermentation takes the starch and sugar from food and changes it to lactic acid and acetic acid. The lactic acid and alcohol that fermentation produces preserves the food and nutrients by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria or fungi. In the process, it makes the phytonutrients more bioavailable. Everyone that owns a television has heard commercials lauding the benefits of the live bacteria in yogurt, but there are other fermented foods that are even better for you.

You’ll get some great benefits from fermented foods.

Whether you want to get your digestion tuned or boost your immune system, chomping down some sauerkraut, or other fermented food, may help you do it. It can help people with either IBS or constipation. A strong elimination system with a healthy balance of bacteria helps the body in more ways that reducing the bloat of constipation or reducing the need to find a bathroom everywhere you travel. It helps rid the body of toxins and waste while making absorption of nutrients better. It boosts antibody production, thus creating a stronger immune system. The antibodies can also help control appetite, lower cravings for sugar and help you lose weight!

Drink some of your fermented food.

Kefir is a fermented milk product. It has a long history of keeping people healthy. It’s created from using a starter, called kefir grains, to ferment milk. The origination was in the Northern Caucasus Mountain are in what was once in the USSR that’s known for its long lived population. Kefir grains are gelatinous clumps of bacteria and yeast that are held together with a polysaccharide, making it look like little clumps of jelly. Kefir is like drinkable yogurt. It provides vitamins B12, K2, magnesium, calcium, biotin, enzymes, folate and probiotics.

Sauerkraut is a well-known fermented foods.

Whether you’re eating sauerkraut or even Kimchi, you’re eating fermented vegetables. While sauerkraut originated in Germany, Kimchi is a fermented Korean dish. Sauerkraut is made from fermented cabbage and is high in vitamins A, C, K and multiple B vitamins. It provides copper, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium and sodium. Like kefir, it’s good for digestion, boosts circulation, improves bone health, lowers cholesterol levels and fights inflammation. Kimchi recipes vary. Cabbage is one of the ingredients, but it can contain everything from radish, scallions and carrots to shrimp. It’s a spicy dish that is high in antioxidants, boosts digestion and cardiovascular health.

• Pickles are fermented cucumbers and contains high amounts of vitamin k, plus loads of other vitamins and minerals. Pickles also have antioxidants and boost friendly bacteria.
• Miso is created from fermenting brown rice, soybean or barley. It’s good for healthy skin, the immune system, bone health and the nervous system.
• Natto and tempeh are both from fermented soybeans. Natto is high in vitamin K and is an antioxidant, while tempeh provides quality protein and vitamins B5, B6, B2 and B3.
• Raw cheese and yogurt are both excellent sources of probiotics. You need to choose varieties of yogurt that live bacteria, comes from milk from pasture raised goats or sheep and is organic.