Fermented foods are becoming the new big health craze

Are you looking to improve your health in 2022? Many people believe it begins with food and one of the hottest trends carries significant benefits.

Fermented foods are becoming the new big thing.

Harnessing the power of food plays a large role at SWFL Integrative Medicine in Fort Myers, especially now when the pandemic has us chewing on ways to better our health.

Heather auld is a medical doctor who combines traditional with holistic approaches.

Dr. Heather Auld works with Integrative & Functional Medicine & Gynecology. She says “I think people want to do some prevention and also they want to maintain good health without the use of pharmaceuticals.”

Listening to your gut is a good start. Fermented foods are a proven and accessible way to boost good gut bacteria.

It feeds into the probiotic trend.

Fermented foods are filling grocery store shelves, from familiar staples like pickles, soy sauce, and yogurt, to the brewed drink that is boastful about its bacteria – kombucha.

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink, and its leading this renewed interest in an age-old culturing method.

From kefir to sauerkraut, pickled or brined, licensed nutritionist Teresa Spano explains items are produced or preserved with live microorganisms. The process nurtures gut bacteria which carries additional health benefits.

“The roles that they play are plentiful,” Spano added. “We do know that it affects our immune system. So there are even studies looking at people who have had COVID, and even long COVID. The ones who have had a better gut flora have tended to do better with it, and it helps with the neurotransmitters in our brain. So it helps with mood, it helps with inflammation, of course, it helps with gastrointestinal health.”

These foods have a unique tart flavor. because they break down the food source. It may be an acquired taste for some but it’s also proof that it’s active.

Spano said, “It does tend to be a bit more bitter, which is actually really good for your digestive system too because it really makes other digestive enzymes start working.”

From better digestion to reducing inflammation and strengthening immunity, studies support the fundamental benefits.

However, Dr. Auld reminds, “There’s no pill that’s going to take the place of eating well.”

Making fermented food a natural, and tasteful remedy. 

Consuming fermented foods may be a relatively new dietary trend, but people have been using this process to preserve food for about 10,000 years.