8 Reasons To Start Fermenting
1. Easy, Natural Food Preservation:
Don’t let this low-tech simplicity scare you; fermentation is one of the safest food preservation strategies. It’s the perfect way to improve the shelf life of homegrown produce without any more effort than prepping the ingredients and waiting for microbes to do their job. Compare it to canning, which requires you to sterilize and boil jars for long periods, and you’ll see the appeal of fermentation’s simplicity.
2. Enhanced Flavors:
The fermentation process creates lactic acid, which adds an appealing tangy taste to the dish.
3. Acts as a Digestive Aid:
Fermented foods have long been used as a natural remedy for stomach problems. They can stimulate the production of digestive juices, keep your stomach at the optimal pH level, and break down complex carbohydrates so your system better absorbs their nutritional benefits.
4. Supports the Endocrine System:
Fermented foods may help you moderate your hormones. The gastrointestinal tract is the body’s largest endocrine organ, and keeping it healthy will positively affect your mood, weight, and immune system.
5. Lowers Disease Risk:
Adding ferments to your diet may stave off lifestyle diseases. One study in the British Journal of Nutrition determined that eating fermented dairy can lower your risk of coronary heart disease. Another study found that good gut bacteria (the kind fermented foods provide) reduced the risk of cancer for mice.
6. Better for the Planet:
Canning and freezing are both energy-intensive ways to preserve food. Learning how to use a home fermentation kit, in contrast, requires nothing more than some counter space, which makes you less dependent on fossil fuels for food storage.
7. May Boost Nutrition Content:
Not only do fermented vegetables retain their original nutritional benefits, but this “predigestion” process actually increases their bioavailability (especially calcium and vitamin C), so your body can absorb a higher percentage of them. Fermentation also synthesizes nutrients associated with skin, nail, and hair health, including biotin, folic acid, and vitamin B12.
8. Delivers Probiotics:
Consuming fermented foods gives your stomach a dose of beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. They collectively improve your gut microbiome for wide-ranging health benefits.
It doesn’t take much time or specialty equipment to learn how to ferment, so consider experimenting with homemade ferments for your next culinary adventure.