Fermented Foods + Body Ecology Diet

As I talked about in my last post, the Body Ecology Diet puts a major focus on fermented foods. These are foods that are produced/preserved by microorganisms. These microorganisms serve as the life force to your gut and health when consumed. Not only do they contain these probiotics for a healthy gut, they are also predigested so it takes a lot of strain off of your body to digest them. Most of these foods are low in calories and are great if you are trying to lose weight. They will improve your digestion by the large amount of fiber as well as the probiotics and enzymes present.

A healthy digestive system allows our bodies to absorb the vitamins and minerals in our food, unlike a toxic colon which sends toxins back into our blood streams causing illness. So eating fermented foods and lead in an increase in B Vitamins, (B12 included because it is created in small amounts in a healthy gut environment) omega 3 fatty acids, digestive enzymes, lactase and lactic acid , as well as other immune chemicals that fight off harmful bacteria, even cancer cells.

I highly recommend the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon which delves into the importance of fermented foods in different cultures and the benefits to your health as well as lots of recipes and instructions to ferment your own salsas, krauts, cheeses, pickles....

Some great fermented foods that you can buy are Miso which is great in salad dressing and Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Tempeh is also a fermented food which is a great protein alternative forvegetarians. It is soy, but it is fermented which makes the nutrients available to your body and destroys the toxins.

When you eat sugar it is good to accompany it with a fermented food because it will eat the sugar and turn it into the good bacteria instead of being digested in the gut with the bad bacteria, also promoting it. There was even a recent study in a magazine about the benefits of drinking raw apple cider vinegar in water before a sugary or carbohydrate rich meal because it will help digest the sugar and slow the way it enters into the blood stream which is great for regulating blood sugar. SO enjoy some fermented foods and boost your immunity and health!