Asian Elixir Delivers HEAD to TOE Health
Let’s face it. The typical Western diet has some MAJOR flaws.
It’s far too high in things we DON’T want, like sugar and empty carbs. And too low in things we should be eating MORE of, such as fermented foods.
Fermented foods are one of your body’s BEST sources of probiotics, which are essential for populating your gut with good bacteria.
Foods like kimchi, natto, and plain yogurt are regular fare in cultures like Korea, Japan, and India… but not here in the West, where Sugar is King.
Today, I will share the details of one delicious, nutrient-dense fermented food that supports everything from balanced blood sugar to better brain health.
Kefir is a fermented, probiotic-rich beverage made with milk (or water, for non-dairy) and kefir grains, which are small gelatinous mixtures of probiotic organisms like lactic acid bacteria.
At first, you might be a bit shocked by kefir’s creamy consistency and acidic taste, but give it a chance to grow on you.
In addition to being a fantastic source of probiotics, kefir ALSO provides a generous helping of protein, calcium, and vitamins A, B12, and D.
And, like other probiotic-rich fermented foods, regular doses of kefir can improve the gut microbiome, immunity, and metabolic factors (that influence blood sugar).
One study found that when folks with metabolic syndrome ate kefir daily for 12 weeks, they had an increase in beneficial gut bacteria, improved insulin levels, and lower blood pressure.
In another, when volunteers with type 2 diabetes ate kefir twice daily for eight weeks, they had significantly lower HbA1c levels (a measure of blood sugar over time).
Other similar studies showed reductions in fasting glucose and insulin resistance.
And eating kefir daily for 12 weeks reduces inflammation and improves HDL cholesterol.
And as impressive as all that is, the benefits DON’T end there.
The fermented beverage is ALSO associated with…
- fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression,
- reduced risk of neurological diseases,
- better memory and concentration,
- stronger bones,
- and a more robust immune system.
If you don’t want to drink kefir straight, you can add it to smoothies, overnight oats, or creamy salad dressings.
P.S. For years, researchers have suspected that THESE bacteria play a role in breast cancer. Now, scientists have taken a big step toward proving it.
SOURCE:
Leeuwendaal NK, et al., “Fermented Foods, Health and the Gut Microbiome.” Nutrients. 2022 Apr 6;14(7):1527. doi: 10. 3390/nu14071527. PMID: 35406140; PMCID: PMC9003261.
