Fermented foods are, hands down, the MVPs of nutrition. They're nutrient dense, packed with probiotics, help reduce anti-nutrients, and aid in digestion - all of which contribute to a healthy gut.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But why food-based instead of a pill? Because food is ALWAYS better. There are around 22.5 billion CFUs in a serving of yogurt and some estimates say around 1.5 trillion CFU in a tablespoon of sauerkraut juice (INSANE!). That is more than in some BOTTLES of probiotics, plus the enzymes in food-based probiotics help your body absorb it better. There is also a lot of concerning information surfacing on the poor quality of many store bought probiotics (and that they may not even contain live cultures!). Plus, you get all of the added nutrients of whatever fermented food you are enjoying!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Approximately 80% of your immune system lives in your gut, and problems in the digestional tract are at the root of countless chronic health problems: obesity, type 2 diabetes, behavioral disorders, eczema, autoimmune disorders, the list is endless. Adding in real food probiotics is such an easy, budget friendly way to help improve gut flora and increase overall health. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Probiotics are especially important for children, and for my kids it's a non-negotiable - every day, everybody gets at least a serving of fermented foods. In my mind, helping them establish a healthy gut flora is one of the most important things I can do for their overall health - not just for right now, but for their whole life. I start my babies with real food probiotics as soon as they begin solids. My favorite way? Just a tiny bit of sauerkraut juice! Even the smallest taste packs a big probiotic punch.
Above are a few of my favorite real food sources of probiotics. When selecting your probiotics, you want to ensure the label saws raw and fermented and is kept in the refrigerated section. That jar of sauerkraut at your aunt’s BBQ? Not the beneficial kind. If it is shelf stable or says pasteurized, the live cultures are gone and it’s not a source of probiotics. You’ll also want to check the label for added sugar (in the case of kombuca and kimchi). While sugar is needed to create kombucha, certain companies add additional sugar in post-fermentation which you’ll want to avoid (we’re trying to improve gut health, after all!).
Some of my favorite brands for probiotics are G.T.’s Kombucha, Buddha’s Brew Kombucha, Wildbrine Sauerkraut and Sonoma Brinery Pickles. Do you have any favorites? I’d love to hear!