More people are focusing on their gut health, and as a result, fermented foods are gaining popularity. The federal government’s latest dietary guidelines specifically encourage Americans to eat more fermented food. Fermented foods have been a part of human history for thousands of years, with many cultures having their own traditional fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut.

Benefits of Fermented Foods

Dietitians and doctors say that fermented foods are a great addition to almost anyone’s diet, but they warn against new, mass-produced products. Fermented foods feed the gut in two main ways: the microbes in fermented foods help predigest them, and the bacteria themselves also help keep the gut in balance by competing with other bacteria.

Some fermented foods, like yogurt, give you the live probiotics while you are eating them. Others, like sourdough bread, give you few, if any, because they’ve been baked or otherwise processed in ways that kill the microbes. However, there is evidence that some fermented foods are beneficial even without the live microbes.

Choosing the Right Fermented Foods

Experts warn against sodas, chocolate, or other processed foods that market themselves as probiotic. Even probiotic supplements are essentially trying to replicate the combinations of beneficial bacteria that naturally grow in many fermented foods. Consumers should look for items that say “live cultures,” not just that they are probiotic.

The best way to eat fermented foods is to eat lots of different kinds and to make them a regular part of your diet. Researchers recommend thinking about the foods in categories, like milk-based yogurt and kefir, and fiber-based ones such as kimchi and sauerkraut.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.