Editors Note: You want me to eat what??  I am more of a sweet person rather than sour, however over the years I have learned that sour foods have incredible healing properties that I shouldn’t over look!  Now that doesn’t mean that just because it is healthy we need to suffer through the digestion process, but with more and more companies appreciating fermented foods you are sure to find a product you will love.  Play a game with a friend of yours to try 5 different fermented foods and choose one that you like and can add to your regular diet! There are loads of great options below, or leave a comment and ask for more options if you would like even more variety. ~Nitika~

I want to introduce you to a food group that I have recently been exploring and experiencing great benefits from.  You may have heard of them, but never knew much about them or thought you would enjoy them as I have.  They are not very common in the Standard American Diet, but have been used in China and many other cultures for centuries for medicinal and food preservation purposes.  So, what am I talking about?  You may be asking yourself.  Welcome to the fascinating world of fermented and cultured foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, and kimchi.  I want to make you aware of the many amazing health benefits that you can gain by adding these foods to your diet.  I hope after reading you will be inspired to try them for yourself!

Help control sugar cravings.  One of the greatest benefits I have found with adding fermented foods to as many meals as I can is having my craving for something sweet after a meal disappear.  The addition of the sour or bitter taste of the fermented foods helps create a balanced experience for your taste buds.  You may have noticed that after eating salty popcorn you have a desire for ice cream or something sweet.  This is very common after many of the meals that we eat because table salt is unfortunately over used and many entrees are missing the sweet and sour tastes.

Loaded with vitamins and nutrients.   Throughout the fermentation cycle the live cultures create B vitamins, including folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and biotin.  In addition, fermentation creates omega-3 fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body.

Improves digestion and your immune system. Fermented foods are rich with live, active cultures of good bacteria known as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.  These live cultures help to restore and maintain the balance of the intestinal flora, which in turn supports a healthy digestive system.  The good bacteria produce beneficial enzymes and short-chain fatty acids that aid in digestion, enhance the absorption of nutrients, and nourish the cells of the intestine.  This results in the body’s ability to protect itself against harmful pathogenic microorganisms to promote a strong immune system.

Places to find these fabulous foods! I am noticing that more and more markets around the city are carrying different brands of fermented foods and beverages.  Farmers markets are also a great place to find fresh, local sources.  A few of my favorite restaurants where you will find homemade sauerkraut and/or kimchi on the menu are Angelica’s Kitchen, Sun In Bloom, and Hangawi.  Below is a list of some of the brands to look out for and experiment with.  One thing to be aware of when you are buying fermented foods is to make sure they are the raw, unpasteurized versions because the heating process destroys the beneficial enzymes and good bacteria.

Hawthorne Valley Farm and Real Pickles – Both produce natural raw sauerkraut and other lacto-fermented vegetable.

Sunja’s – Makes different varieties of kimchi.

GT’s – Organic raw kombucha, this is my personal favorite out of all of the brands and has many different flavors.

Red Wood Hill Farm – A sustainably farm and family owned company that produces all natural goat kefir milk and yogurt.

So Delicious – Provides dairy free alternatives such as cultured coconut milk and creamer.

There are many great YouTube videos online that you can use as resources to learn more.  I would also recommend The Body Ecology Diet book by Donna Gates for anyone that is very interested in learning more.  This book has a wealth of information with step by step instructions that I often use as a reference guide.  Happy eating Bella Life readers!