The Importance of Adding Cultured Foods to Your Diet

In today’s society where there are so many processed foods and convenience foods available, many people end up experiencing digestive problems. As many as one in five people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, a condition where the intestines fail to move in a coordinated fashion resulting in abdominal cramping, bloating, and pain. One reason digestive problems are so prevalent is that many people are deficient in the “friendly bacteria” that help to keep the gut healthy. Before convenience foods were so widely available, people ate more cultured foods which are foods high in friendly bacteria or probiotics that help to keep the digestive system healthy. The importance of cultured foods in the diet is being increasingly recognized as a way to not only promote a healthy digestive tract but also to enhance the immune system.

Why are the friendly bacteria found in cultured foods so important? These bacteria not only protect the bowel against invasion by pathogenic bacteria but also protect against fungi such as yeast. They also help to enhance the immune system and promote better absorption of nutrients and vitamins. Eating cultured food that contains probiotics is particularly important if you’ve taken a recent course of antibiotics. Antibiotics can wipe out the friendly bacteria along with the pathogenic ones, leading to diarrhea and other digestive problems.

Although you can buy probiotic supplements in pill form to supply your body with the good bacteria needed for good digestion and a healthy immune system, commercial probiotics can be expensive and the quality of these supplements varies widely. The best way to replenish your gut with friendly bacteria is to add more cultured foods to your diet. Cultured foods are naturally fermented foods that contain strains of probiotic bacteria that naturally colonize the gut. Although almost any food can be fermented, you can purchase a variety of cultured foods already prepared at your local health food store or natural food market. Some cultured foods can even be purchased at your local grocery store.

What are some of these healthy, cultured foods that are so important for health? At your local grocery store, you can purchase sauerkraut to serve as a vegetable side dish. In addition to being a source of friendly bacteria, the cabbage also has anti-cancer benefits. If sauerkraut isn’t your cup of tea, yogurt is another healthy, cultured food that’s rich in protein and calcium.

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, fermented soy products such as tempeh and miso not only have beneficial bacteria but other health benefits as well. One of the newest trends in cultured foods is kefir which is a fermented milk product that’s more easily digested than other dairy products, particularly for those with lactose intolerance. You can even ferment your own foods at home if you’re so inclined. Instructions can be found on the internet.

Try adding a cultured food to your diet each day and discover the health benefits that these friendly bacteria offer. The results? You may experience better digestive function as well as better overall health.