Fermented Food for Your Immune System
You may have heard of fermentation, or maybe not, but fermentation used to be as common a method of cooking as any other. We still use it today to produce many foods and drinks that we love: wine, cheese, kombucha, yogurt, kimchi, and more.
Fermentation comes with a wide range of health benefits. Being rich in probiotics that improve gut health and immunity, fermented food might be key, especially during these times of sickness. As anxiety increases during this time, it is essential to find natural and therapeutic coping methods to aid us in our new normals. Eating fermented foods is a great way to protect yourself while basking in the perks of a healthy lifestyle.
What is Fermented Food?
Fermentation is an all natural process during which microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria convert carbohydrates (like starches and sugars) into alcohol or acids. The alcohol or acids serve as natural preservatives, leading to the trademark tart flavor that is present in all fermented foods.
I know this may seem new to most, but hear me out. With all the amazing health benefits, fermented foods are a must during a time where we’re all trying to stay indoors as much as possible. What’s more, you can even ferment food in your own home Luckily, fermentation is a fairly simple process.
How To Make It
1. Find organic produce
Non – organic produce is covered in pesticides which kill all good bacteria as well as bad so it is best to search for organic foods to ferment and to eat in general. A local and seasonal farmers market is always a good choice for this but it is not a necessity.
2. Find a suitable vessel
A Mason jar should do just fine for this.
3. Find a reliable bacterial starter
A bacterial starter is a preparation used to start the fermentation process. A good bacterial starter is a must have since it has to contain capable bacterial strains to fight off threatening and unhealthy bacteria such as E. coli. You may find a ready – made powdered starter online or at a health food store or sign up for a workshop to get a trustworthy starter from an expert.
4. Fill the jars with vegetables, seasoning, starter, and cover with filtered water
The process of fermenting vegetables takes one to two weeks depending on how intense you’d prefer your flavor to be. Ferments are best stored in dark, cool places such as to prevent the bacteria from working at high speed and causing a fizzy explosion. Once the process is done, only open your jar over the sink to prevent any bacterial spills. After you have created your fermented masterpiece, relocate it to the fridge where it will last around eight months.
All in all, what I hope you take away from this is that during this time, we should all be trying new things (since we definitely have the free time). Trying fermented foods might just be what you need to reduce heart disease risk, aid in digestion, help your weight loss, and ultimately, jumpstart your immune system.
April 1, 2020
BON APPETIT
Fermented Food for Your Immune System
You may have heard of fermentation, or maybe not, but fermentation used to be as common a method of cooking as any other. We still use it today to produce many foods and drinks that we love: wine, cheese, kombucha, yogurt, kimchi, and more.
Fermentation comes with a wide range of health benefits. Being rich in probiotics that improve gut health and immunity, fermented food might be key, especially during these times of sickness. As anxiety increases during this time, it is essential to find natural and therapeutic coping methods to aid us in our new normals. Eating fermented foods is a great way to protect yourself while basking in the perks of a healthy lifestyle.
What is Fermented Food?
Fermentation is an all natural process during which microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria convert carbohydrates (like starches and sugars) into alcohol or acids. The alcohol or acids serve as natural preservatives, leading to the trademark tart flavor that is present in all fermented foods.
I know this may seem new to most, but hear me out. With all the amazing health benefits, fermented foods are a must during a time where we’re all trying to stay indoors as much as possible. What’s more, you can even ferment food in your own home Luckily, fermentation is a fairly simple process.
How To Make It
1. Find organic produce
Non – organic produce is covered in pesticides which kill all good bacteria as well as bad so it is best to search for organic foods to ferment and to eat in general. A local and seasonal farmers market is always a good choice for this but it is not a necessity.
2. Find a suitable vessel
A Mason jar should do just fine for this.
3. Find a reliable bacterial starter
A bacterial starter is a preparation used to start the fermentation process. A good bacterial starter is a must have since it has to contain capable bacterial strains to fight off threatening and unhealthy bacteria such as E. coli. You may find a ready – made powdered starter online or at a health food store or sign up for a workshop to get a trustworthy starter from an expert.
4. Fill the jars with vegetables, seasoning, starter, and cover with filtered water
The process of fermenting vegetables takes one to two weeks depending on how intense you’d prefer your flavor to be. Ferments are best stored in dark, cool places such as to prevent the bacteria from working at high speed and causing a fizzy explosion. Once the process is done, only open your jar over the sink to prevent any bacterial spills. After you have created your fermented masterpiece, relocate it to the fridge where it will last around eight months.
All in all, what I hope you take away from this is that during this time, we should all be trying new things (since we definitely have the free time). Trying fermented foods might just be what you need to reduce heart disease risk, aid in digestion, help your weight loss, and ultimately, jumpstart your immune system.