Fermented pharmacy

As promised, here is the follow on from last week.

Many specialists refer to the digestive system as the second brain.  In fact, it is the only other organ that produces the neurotransmitter serotonin or the "happy hormone" - it actually produces MORE than your brain does.

So, brain and digestive health go hand in hand.  Your gut is also home to a countless number of bacteria - both good and bad.  These bacteria outnumber your body's cells by 10 to 1 - at least.  It is very important to maintain the ideal balance of good and bad bacteria as this balance forms the foundation for good health - physical, mental and emotional.

It is believed that most disease originates in your digestive system - this includes both physical and mental disease.  Some examples are:

• Lupus
• Crohn's Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Kidney problems
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Urinary conditions
• Allergic and atopic conditions
• Fibromyalgia
• Inflammatory bowel diseases

To name but a few.

In order to have a healthy gut, it is recommended to incorporate fermented foods into the diet.  Fermented foods are some of the best chelators available - a chelator is a substance that removes other toxic substances from the body.  The beneficial bacteria in fermented foods are very potent detoxifiers, capable of drawing out a wide range of toxins and heavy metals.

So, here are seven of the top fermented foods for you to incorporate into your diet:

1. Kombucha: I've spoken of this before.  This is a fermented black tea that gives you a really great bacterial kick as it contains a great variety of microorganisms.  Just keep and eye on the sugar!
2. Sauerkraut: Fermented cabbage has a powerful impact on brain health, including depression and anxiety.
3. Pickles: This common food isn't often though of as a healthy food.  However, they provide a healthy dose of probiotics.
4. Coconut Yogurt:  You all know my love of all things coconut, so I could hardly leave it out of this post!  This is a dairy free way of getting the probiotic potential of yogurt - there are many easy recipes available on the Internet.
5. Miso:  Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans and grains and is packed full of essential minerals such as potassium, and consists of millions of microorganisms.
6. Tempeh or fermented soybeans is a complete protein that contains all the essential amino acids.  You can add this to a salad or as a sandwich filler.
7. Kimchi: This is a Korean dish typically made from fermented cabbage, it can help enhance digestion and nutrient assimilation - it can also improve your skin.

You also don't need to go crazy either, you only need between a quarter to half a cup of fermented vegetables or cultured foods such as yogurt per day.

So get cracking!  You can find loads of recipes on the Internet!

I can help you improve your health.  If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com