Oct 4, 2014

Win the Weight War with Fermented Foods

If you have struggled with being overweight or obese, fermented foods may be just the tool to help you fight fat and win.   New research has shown that fermented foods actually help people to lose weight and keep it off.

Fermented foods are those that have added bacteria and other microbes added to them.  This process helps to preserve food safely and helps to break down nutrients into usable forms.  In addition, it provides your body with healthy bacteria that it needs.

This type of food isn't as foreign as you may think. 

If you've eaten yogurt, pickles, or sauerkraut you've already experienced fermented foods.  But there are many more you could add to that list.



Fermented foods contain many good bacteria that your digestive system needs to function properly and to digest your food.  If you've struggled with acid reflux, constipation, or diarrhea fermented foods can help you get back on track.

You'll still need to make sure you're eating a healthy overall diet and moving your body, but adding fermented foods on a daily basis can help you to lose more weight and keep it off than a diet without it.

When you add more fermented foods you'll find that you're not as hungry.  That's primarily due to the fact that your intestines can actually digest the nutrients your food provides. 

You'll get more nutrition but you'll eat less food.

Studies comparing animals eating the same diet but with different levels of gut bacteria have shown that those given probiotics lost weight or maintained a healthier weight than those not given the probiotic foods.

You can also see this in babies.  Many scientists believe that the live bacteria transferred to babies through breastfeeding contributes to breast fed babies having a lower incidence of obesity as they get older than formula fed babies.

You'll want to add a wide variety of fermented foods to experience this benefit. 

Fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir are easy to add.  You might also try pickled cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, and turnips.

Many people enjoy drinking a fermented tea known as kombucha that is a refreshing, fizzy treat.  You can even make this drink at home very easily.  Drinking a serving of it each day can restore your gut's healthy bacteria levels.

Adding fermented foods and following a sensible diet plan of eating whole foods can help you to conquer your weight war once and for all.