When your gut is healthy – you’ll be healthy too!
One of the best ways to boost your health, strengthen your immune system, and improve your digestion is to have a healthy gut.
95% of your serotonin (the feel-good hormone) is made in your gut
70% of your immune system cells are in your gut
It was Hippocrates who said, 'All disease starts in your gut' (clever man!)
A great way to boost your gut health is to add probiotics and prebiotics to your diet. And adding them to your diet is easier than you think. You can find them in fermented foods like kombucha, plant-based yoghurts, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
5 ways fermented foods give you a healthy gut (and more)
Fermented foods are often referred to as ‘the forgotten food group’. And we don’t eat them as much as they did in the past when veggies were fermented to preserve them over the winter.
Here’s why you should try eating them most days:
1. They’re a source of good bacteria
Eating fermented foods and drinks like kimchi or kombucha introduces good bacteria into your digestive system. This helps keep the balance of beneficial flora in your gut.
2. They’re easy to digest
Thanks to the bacterial breakdown of some of the natural sugars and starches, fermented foods are easier for us to digest.
3. They improve your micro-nutrient intake
When we ferment certain foods, they produce more vitamins and minerals(1) and make it easy for our bodies to absorb them.
4. They may support your heart health
Fermented foods have been shown to reduce your risk of heart disease with lower blood pressure(2) and improvements in cholesterol(3).
5. They reduce your risk of infections
Including a range of fermented foods in your diet may support your immune system and reduce your risk of upper respiratory infection in particular(4).
3 ways you can eat fermented foods every day
For breakfast, pimp up your avocado on toast with pickled lemons or beets.
At lunch, pile your kimchi into a wrap or add a dollop to soup for delicious crunch.
For a nutritious dinner, mix your sauerkraut with your grains and beans.
Always make considered changes to your
Everyone is different. And we respond to foods differently. If you’re looking to make changes to your diet, it’s always a good idea to consult a nutritionist or your local GP first.
References
(1) Health benefits of fermented foods. 2017 Oct 20. PMID: 28945458.
(2) Effect of probiotic fermented milk on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. 2013 Jul 3. PMID: 23823502.
(3) The effect of a probiotic milk product on plasma cholesterol: a meta-analysis of short-term intervention studies. 2000 Nov PMID: 11114681.
(4) Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections. 2022 Aug PMID: 36001877
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