Fermented foods and drinks have been around for centuries and have recently gained popularity for their potential health benefits. Especially with the rise in people enjoying fermented beverages like kombucha and kefir.
One of the main reasons why fermented drinks, like probiotic kombucha, is good for your health is that they contain live and active cultures and essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes. drinks are considered to be functional beverages, which means they are drinks that convey more benefits than providing hydration alone.
The area I am particularly interested in is the live cultures present in kombucha fermentations, which are probiotics. They are cultured specially to produce millions of beneficial bacteria which can improve gut health by restoring the balance of bacteria in your gut. Fermented foods not only provide important sources of nutrients but also have great potential to improve digestion, a stronger immune system, and a reduced risk of certain illnesses.
But that’s not all! In this blog, we’ll explore a few more reasons why fermentation is good for you, as well as where you can get the best kombucha in the UK. Let’s dive in!
WHAT IS FERMENTATION?
You can’t really understand why fermentation is good for your gut if you don’t know what it is.
Since long before there was refrigeration, foods around the world have been preserved by using an age-old process that not only boosts the food’s shelf life but increases its nutritional value and can give your body a dose of healthful probiotics — live microorganisms are crucial to good digestion.
Fermention is created through a regulated microbial growth and enzymatic reactions that transform some of the food’s components into other molecules.
Alcohol or acids are produced when bacteria, yeast, or fungi break down carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.
These provide fermented foods a distinctively potent, salty, and slightly sour flavour while also acting as natural preservatives and enhancing their flavour and texture. That’s what gives your probiotic kombucha its tangy taste and complex depth of flavour.
The process of fermentation can occur naturally, known as a “Spontaneous”. This can occur by the microorganisms already present in the food or environment. Kimchi or sauerkraut are examples of natural fermentation, whereas kombucha, kefir, tempeh and natto are produced using starter culture known as “culture-dependent ferments”.
Manymanufacturing processes, including those that produce yoghurt, cheese, wine and beer require fermentation.
WHY ARE FERMENTED FOODS AND DRINKS GOOD FOR YOU?
Okay, now that you’re up to speed on fermentation… We can tell you what makes your kombucha drink and other fermented foods so good!
1) THEY CONTAIN LACTIC ACID BACTERIA:
The majority of fermented foods provide bacteria such as Lactic Acid Bacteria, which have several strains that are well known probiotics. They come from the family of Lacobacillus.. Eating foods containing these LAB bacteria can enrich our intestines with live probiotic microorganisms.
However, the amount of probiotics that reach the gut, where they are beneficial, varies. Several factors contribute to how many bacteria arrive there, including the food in which they are delivered, with those that contain fibres known as prebiotics being the most beneficial.
2) THEY’RE EASY ON THE STOMACH:
Fermented foods are simpler to digest since part of the natural sugars and carbohydrates have already been broken down. For instance, fermentation converts lactose from milk into glucose and galactose, two simpler sugars that, if you have lactose intolerance, may make yoghurt, kefir, and cheese easier to digest.
3) INCREASE NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY:
Certain foods have greater health potential when they are fermented. This includes enhancing our bodies’ ability to absorb the vitamins and minerals they supply. This is due to the possibility that certain natural substances, such as phytic acid in legumes like soy beans, may prevent humans from absorbing vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc. However, by fermenting these foods, we eliminate these “anti-nutrients,” increasing our access to their nutritional richness. The same advantages have been noted for sourdough, including increased protein breakdown, better mineral availability, and decreased glycemic, reactions making this bread a good option for people watching their blood glucose levels.
Shop now and taste the twist of our kombucha!
4) CAN IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL MENTAL-HEALTH:
Our knowledge of the stomach and how it affects our emotions and behaviour is rapidly developing. And it appears that fermented foods like your kombucha drink may play a significant role.
Certain probiotic bacteria strains, such as Lactobacillis helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum, which are frequently present in fermented foods, may lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
A different strain, Lactobacillus casei Shirota, may similarly affect cortisol production and lessen the physical signs of stress.
5) GOOD FOR YOUR HEART:
The risk of heart disease appears to be reduced when fermented foods are included in a healthy, balanced diet.
Studies have shows that fermented foods and drinks can:
Modestly drop blood pressure
Enhance cholesterol balance
These are contributing factors in overall heart-health.
These are just 5 proven reasons fermented foods are good for you. In truth, there are many more reasons. Stick around the Twisted Kombucha blog to learn more. You can even visit our instagram page for daily snippets of nutritional knowledge, and recipes!
WHERE CAN I GET THE BEST KOMBUCHA IN THE UK?
Now that we’ve read the science behind it, you’re probably wondering where you can get the best kombucha in the UK. Don’t settle for just any brand. Think about the nutritional value of your drink.
Here at Twisted Kombucha, we make our probiotic kombucha in small batches. This means that each bottle of kombucha drink is carefully crafted using the age old method and monitored with love, and no added preservatives.
Our kombucha is raw, the way kombucha was meant to be! Shop now ☺️
