Here are the benefits of fermented foods. Check out below!
BENEFITS OF FERMENTED FOODS – These are the health benefits of eating fermented foods and including them in your diet.
Fermentation is a metabolic process by which sugars are broken down by enzymes of microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. There are three main types of fermentation: alcohol fermentation, lactic acid fermentation, and acetic acid fermentation.
And fermentation in food is a practice for many, many years done by people in order to preserve the food. Apart from preserving, this process is also done to enhance shelf life and improve flavor. And up until this day, this process is widely used and it can be in some products widely used today such as wine, cheese, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha.
This process, over time, became associated with several health benefits and studies discovered that microorganisms involved in this process are related to numerous ways that can improve health. A study stated that bacteria in fermentation synthesize vitamins and minerals that produce a compound biologically known as active peptides.
These peptides include:
- conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) which are known for their effect to lower blood pressure
- exopolysaccharides that exhibit prebiotic properties
- bacteriocins that show anti-microbial effects
- sphingolipids for their anti-carcinogenic and anti-microbial properties
- bioactive peptides are known for their anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, opioid antagonist, anti-allergenic, and blood pressure-lowering capacity
This shows that fermented foods may benefit the health due to their anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-atherosclerotic abilities. However, there are studies that tell otherwise.
Meanwhile, according to a blog from Cleveland Clinic, here are some reasons to include fermented foods in your meals”
- It has good bacteria that help you break down foods.
- The good bacteria fight the bad ones which prevent the body to obtain any sickness or infection.
- Good bacteria synthesize vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, and K.
- It has properties that can help improve gut health.
READ ALSO:
- Probiotic vs Prebiotic – What Are The Differences Between The Two?
- Fermentation Meaning and Process, What Is Fermentation In Foods
What can you say about this? Let us know!