Frmo Kimchi to Sauerkraut: Here's Why You Should Eat More Fermented Foods

BySamantha Bansil, 11/22/2017

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Fermented food has for centuries been enjoyed by a variety of cultures — namely in Germany, Asia, and Eastern Europe. It's an ancient method of preserving food that stretches all the way back to Roman times. Nowadays, it's never been clearer that fermented dishes can have a positive impact on our overall health and well-being.

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Fermentation: A Natural Process

Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of preserving food naturally. It works by converting carbs to alcohol, carbon dioxide, or preservative acids using the help of microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast. In the case of lacto-fermentation, the food is submerged in salt water over time, which allows bacteria to form. The bacteria then eats the sugars in the food, producing lactic acid, which alters the pH as well as the taste.