LACTOFERMENTATION AND HEALTH
Lacto-fermentation is a method of food preservation that dates back thousands of years. It involves soaking fresh vegetables in a salt brine or mixing them with other ingredients, such as herbs and spices, to produce a variety of fermented products, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles and kombucha.
In recent years, lacto-fermentation has become increasingly popular because of its many health benefits. Lacto-fermented vegetables are rich in probiotics, live microorganisms that can help improve digestive health, boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Lacto-fermented vegetables are also rich in enzymes, molecules that help break down food into nutrients that are more easily absorbed by the body.
A study in South Korea showed that consumption of kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented cabbage dish, reduced body weight and improved metabolic parameters in overweight and obese patients (1). In addition, other studies have shown that the lactic acid bacteria present in fermented vegetables can help reduce inflammation and restore the balance of the intestinal flora in people suffering from gastrointestinal disorders (2, 3).
The interest of choosing lacto-fermented vegetables, rather than capsules, as a source of probiotics is that the vegetables also provide you with the prebiotics necessary for the multiplication of lactic bacteria and reinforce their effectiveness. Moreover, they make food much easier to digest, which is not negligible for people who have difficulties with raw vegetables. These good bacteria also have an antibacterial effect and will allow your body to fight back better in case of infection or imbalance of the intestinal flora.
You will find that lacto-fermented vegetables stimulate your digestive system and the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas. The acidity is a sign of the transformation of carbohydrates present in fresh vegetables, which makes these foods ideal for those who suffer from diabetes and who seek to maintain a lively and diversified diet.
Lactofermentation acts as a pre-digestion of vegetables and, with the same volume, you will obtain a better yield for the assimilation of vitamins, minerals and trace elements by the intestinal flora.
Here are some tips for incorporating lacto-fermented vegetables into your diet:
- Start with small portions to allow the gut to adapt to the probiotics found in lacto-fermented vegetables.
- Add lacto-fermented vegetables to dishes such as salads, soups, sandwiches or eat them as a side dish for a main course.
- Ideally consume two tablespoons a day
- If you feel your body is overreacting, reduce the dose for a week and try a more gradual increase
- In order to really feel the effects, which can be very subtle, it is advisable to find the determination of to integrate them on a daily basis over a period of approximately one month.
Obviously, the consumption of these vegetables is not a panacea, but it is an addition that can have multiple beneficial effects on your health. The contraindications are rare, they can cause digestive problems in people with yeast allergies, Candida Albicans or other candidiasis. One client also told me that people who are sensitive to histamine should not consume it without supervision.
For this type of disorder, it is best to contact nutritionists and naturopaths who will be able to help you sort things out and formulate an individual action plan (which may include the consumption of lacto-fermented vegetables), but which will accompany you as closely as possible to your feelings and the evolution of your condition
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Vous soutenez ainsi une famille passionnée par ces savoirs ancestraux et au cœur des préoccupations contemporaines. Ces sujets si importants vont jusqu’à chatouiller les reflexions du devenir de nos tissus sociaux et environnementaux.
For those who would like to follow a more in-depth presentation on lacto-fermentation, with tasting and preparation of your own jars, we regularly have series of workshops that are organized. We are also always available to organize them for team building, friends/family reunions or events (contact: art.en.pot@gmail.com).