5.11
Fermented foods are just plain good for you, and the most common and available is yogurt. Our gut has a 'microbiome' which benefits from healthy bacteria, and fermented foods offer great bacteria for our overall health.
Probiotic foods like yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi all offer healthy bacteria, which hold a host of benefits. Healthy bacteria can even 'crowd out' unhealthy bacteria in our gut, giving further reasons to having beneficial probiotics over unfermented foods.
Check out this great article from Dr. Josh Axe on why the most accessible fermented food, yogurt, should be included in our pantries.
10 Benefits of probiotic yogurt
An important thing to keep in mind is to source your dairy from the most raw, grass-fed, high quality dairy possible. Yogurt from goat's milk or sheep's milk is best, but hormone-free, grass-fed cow's milk yogurt is a close contender.
So add some beneficial dairy to your pantry, and improve your gut health, blood pressure, weight and mood.
By the Way
The most beneficial yogurt is one with active probiotic cultures, and little to no added sugars. Common production yogurts full of fructose, sugar and fruit purees are often giving you way too much sugar, and are likely sourced from hormone-treated dairy cows (to increase their milk production.) And Greek yogurt (as well as Greek-style yogurt) are dubious in their health benefits, at best. Check out this article from Dr. Axe on the issues with Greek yogurt...
5.04
A healthy gut goes hand-in-hand with a healthy body and wellness lifestyle, and one of the healthiest forms of food we can consume are fermented / cultured ones. I have eaten yogurt on and off my whole life, and like many Pennsylvanians, enjoy pork and sauerkraut at New Year's day every year. These common menu items reflect the benefits found in numerous fermented foods.
A fermented all-star, which is gaining significant attention in recent years, is kombucha. This fermented tea develops a light carbonation and a slight acidic bite, along with a sophisticated flavor profile. And the benefits to our health are numerous.
Kombucha (pronounced kawm-boo-chah) is an ancient beverage, known for its significant health benefits, and enjoyed in eastern Asia for over 2000 years. It is commonly made from black or green tea, a bit of plain sugar, and an active starter culture, referred to as a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast).
It is this colony of (healthy) bacteria and yeast which give kombucha its health-power. There are numerous gut-friendly probiotics in kombucha, as well as healthful levels of acetic and lactic acid. Kombucha has proven helpful with boosting immunity, improving gut health, being high in antioxidants and B vitamins, and supporting heart health.
Check out this great overview of kombucha from a Lititz, PA-based brewer, Renewal Kombucha:
Renewal Kombucha FAQ
And for some further reading, see this article from Dr. Josh Axe on the many benefits of kombucha:
Dr. Axe - Reasons to drink Kombucha
By the Way
There are plenty of bottled kombucha options at many grocery stores. Look for unpasteurized varieties, as pasteurizing would defeat the the beneficial bacteria culture.
Store-bought kombucha can be pricey ($3-$4 a bottle) so you could consider brewing your own at home. It's kind of like hard cider, and very simple to make if you are patient and careful with your ingredients.
4.2
I'm a strong believer that the foods we consume significantly impact our physical and mental well-being. That's what keeping a power pantry is all about - wellness starts with what we stock in our pantry and what we eat.
As the years go, and I keep reading and learning and researching wellness, I'm realizing how important gut health is to our health. The study of 'good' bacteria in our gut, while it sounds icky, is critically important to our health.
The good bugs in our gut (our small and large intestines) generate numerous byproducts (acids, enzymes, hormones, etc.) which protect and regulate the intestinal wall and assure nutrients get through and toxins don't. When our intestinal wall is not healthy (because the good bacterial microflora is out of balance or missing) then all kinds of poor health consequences can result.
One specialist in the field of gut health is Dr. David Williams (www.drdavidwilliams.com), whose published work on gut health goes back to 1989, long before others were aware of or researching good bacteria in the gut. He has valuable information posted on his website regarding probiotics and gut health, and shares significant evidence for why and how good bacteria benefit our health.
Check out this article from Dr. Williams to learn how good gut microbes can help in these ways:
Improve immune health, mood and mental health, boosts energy levels, improve cholesterol levels, regulates hormone levels, reduce yeast infections, support a healthy weight and more.
9 Ways Good Gut Bacteria Support Your Overall Health
Take some time to review the above article to understand good gut bacteria better. If you suffer from a lot of colds and gloomy moods and sluggish energy, you may benefit from some close attention to your good gut bacteria.
By the Way
There are several key good bacteria that our gut, and overall health, benefit from:
Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus salivarius. These are available in common fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, pickled vegetables (cucumbers, beans, cauliflower, etc.) and in commercially produced supplements. While probiotic supplements give some beneficial recharge of good bacteria, the best way to get these is through fermented foods.
