Fermented foods seem to be all the rage. From yoghurt, a common household staple, to kombucha and sauerkraut which are currently making a statement on supermarket shelves. But what exactly are fermented foods? And should you be including them in your diet? Keep reading to find out.
Fermentation is an ancient process that occurs when microbes (bacteria and yeast) break down the sugars in foods. This process changes the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of foods. Fermentation is most commonly used to preserve foods and make foods easier to digest. Some fermented foods contain live microbes when we digest them, including probiotics.
There are many strains of bacteria present in fermented foods, including probiotics, which are particularly beneficial for our health. When consumed, these bacteria can synthesise vitamins, produce enzymes to aid digestion, and can help crowd out the bad bacteria in our gut) (1)( 2).
Not all commercial foods will contain live probiotics when you consume them due to heating processes, such as wine, canned vegetables, and sourdough bread. However, certain items, still retain some beneficial properties, for example, the fermentation process does make sourdough easier to digest for some people compared to regular bread.
Although more research is needed to confirm specific health benefits of fermented foods, promising findings are showing associations between fermented food and improved immune system health, gut health, and improvement on diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes and heart disease (3).
As the research is still growing around fermented foods, there is no conclusive recommended serving size or daily serves. However, 1-3 servings/day can be considered a common sense amount.
Keep in mind that fermented foods can contain salt or sugar, for example, sauerkraut and kimchi are high in sodium (salt) and kombucha does contain added sugar- so it’s important to be mindful of this.
If you’re not used to eating fermented foods, you may experience symptoms at first such as bloating and gas. It will be helpful to start with a small amount and work your way up. One tablespoon of sauerkraut per day is a great start.
It may be easier than you think to get in your daily dose of fermented foods. Here are some ways to spice up your current diet with fermented foods
The evidence on fermented food is promising but still growing, however, they do appear to make a great addition to an overall healthy diet. Getting plenty of prebiotic fibre (that is, the food that feeds the good bacteria in your gut) is still the key to good gut health. You can do this by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds.
If you are having ongoing gut issues, speak to your GP, dietitian or gastroenterologist as adding probiotics and fermented foods may sometimes make the situation worse.
Canned sauerkraut at the supermarket can be expensive. So, a more affordable and healthier option may be to make your own at home. You could even make large batches which can be kept refrigerated for up to 6 months.
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Coyle, P. (2020). What Is Fermentation? The Lowdown on Fermented Foods. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fermentation
Glassman, K. (2020). Why Is Sauerkraut Good for Me? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/why-is-sauerkraut-good-for-me
Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). Fermented foods can add depth to your diet. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/fermented-foods-can-add-depth-to-your-diet
Mcmillen, M. (2017). Could Fermented Foods Boost Your Health? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20170213/could-fermented-foods-boost-your-health
Chilton, S. N., Burton, J. P., & Reid, G. (2015). Inclusion of fermented foods in food guides around the world. Nutrients, 7(1), 390–404. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7010390
Last modified: July 15, 2022
