Why Sauerkraut Is Such A Nutritious Addition To Your Diet
Amidst the superfood craze, many people have taken a back-to-basics look at their dietary intake. One of the things that have been woefully underrated in the past is sauerkraut and fermented foods in general. If you're looking to understand why so many people recommend consuming fermented foods like sauerkraut, it's important to familiarize yourself with the health benefits. Here's a look at some of the reasons why so many people like to add sauerkraut to their diets.
Good Source Of Fiber
One of the biggest reasons why sauerkraut is such a great addition to your diet is the added fiber. Cabbage is naturally a good source of fiber, but when you ferment it like you do to make sauerkraut, you'll actually get additional probiotics that are great for your digestive system and can help enhance your body's absorption of fiber and other nutrients.
Beneficial For Digestion
If you've struggled with gas, indigestion, or other digestive issues, adding sauerkraut to your daily diet can make a significant difference. The probiotics, enzymes, and minerals created during the fermentation process actually help to balance the flora in your gut to improve your digestion. Everything from antibacterial soap and hand spray to antibiotics can all disrupt that delicate balance in your digestive system. In addition to taking probiotic supplements, adding sauerkraut to your diet every day will give you an easily digested source of those probiotics.
Supports Brain Health
Sauerkraut is great for overall cognitive and brain health as well. The zinc and magnesium naturally present in sauerkraut can help to improve the health and condition of your brain, potentially reducing the chances of dementia and age-related cognitive problems.
Improves Heart Health
The fiber content of sauerkraut is much easier for your body to absorb because of the fermentation. That fiber is great for your heart health because it can help to reduce cholesterol levels, much like the high fiber content of oat cereal. If your doctor is concerned about your heart health or cholesterol levels, consider incorporating sauerkraut into your meal plan on a regular basis.
These are just a few of the many health benefits of sauerkraut. When you're looking to improve your digestion, brain health, and heart health, you should look for a source of local sauerkraut so that you get all of the benefits of those healthy enzymes and probiotics. Local sources and fresh product is better because some of those enzymes can be destroyed in heat processing for shelf stability.
Contact a local sauerkraut supplier, such as Fermentools, to learn more.