For thousands of years, ancient civilizations from all over the world considered fermented foods a dietary staple. The ancient Romans had a penchant for sauerkraut, the Bulgarians loved their kefir and yogurt, and the early Asians prized fermented fruits and vegetables for their health benefits, as well as their deliciously tangy flavors. From Europe to Asia, these cultures all recognized that their health was better – and their food was more interesting – when they incorporated ample amounts of fermented foods into their diet. (Related: The Many Benefits of Fermented Foods & Why It’s time to Bring the Tradition Back.)
The fermentation process changes the molecular structure of foods, making them easier to digest and ensuring that the nutrients are as bioavailable as possible. Essentially, fermentation gives your body access to more of a certain food's nutrients, fatty acids, and beneficial enzymes. Fermented foods are also more nutrient-dense than their unfermented counterparts. Lacto-fermentation is a very simple fermentation process that only requires salt, fruit or vegetables, and water. It kills off the harmful bacteria in the produce, while leaving behind the salt-tolerant good bacteria. These beneficial bacteria can then convert the natural sugars of the fruits or vegetables into lactic acid that help preserve the food's flavor, texture and nutrient content.
Health benefits of fermented foods
Fermented foods can offer a wide variety of health benefits.
- Provides a vast array of beneficial enzymes: The fermentation process creates beneficial enzymes in the food. These enzymes then help support your digestive system to absorb more of your food's nutrients.
- Provides optimum levels of B Vitamins (Biotin and Folic Acid): The regular consumption of fermented foods is an excellent way to increase your body's levels of B vitamins, such as biotin and folic acid. These are essential nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy.
- Includes immune-supporting short-chain fatty acids: Short-chain fatty acids are byproducts of the fermentation process. These byproducts are responsible for the sour taste of many fermented foods. They can also support a healthy immune system.
- Increases the bioavailability of the minerals you consume: Regularly eating enzyme-rich fermented foods may help support your digestive system to absorb more of your food's nutrients.
- Supports your body's natural elimination of toxic elements: Fermented foods are some of the best natural chelators or detoxifiers available. Fermented foods can help support your body's natural elimination of toxins by nourishing the good bacteria in the intestines, which provides a prebiotic effect.
If eating regular fermented foods could already provide all these amazing health benefits for your body, imagine how much more impressive they could be if you consumed fermented superfoods instead? Get the highest-quality fermented superfoods on the market with Health Ranger Select Fermented Super30. It contains 30+ of some of the world's healthiest fermented fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and wild herbs that are lab tested for heavy metals, microbiology and glyphosate.
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