Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage with numerous health benefits. It is believed to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago. Fermentation was one of the methods used back then to keep foods from spoiling quickly. Sauerkraut has endured to become a popular side dish and condiment in many cultures. It is especially popular in Germany, where it gets its name.
Sauerkraut has far more nutrition and health benefits than fresh cabbage because of the fermentation process.
This article discusses the eight health benefits of sauerkraut:
1. Sauerkraut is high in nutrients.
Sauerkraut is high in nutrients that are essential for good health. One cup (142 grammes) contains:
• 27 calories
• 0 g of fat
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• 4 gramme fibre
• 1 gramme protein
• Sodium: 41% of Daily Value (DV);
Vitamin C: 23% of DV;
Vitamin K1: 15% of DV
• Iron: 12% of DV;
Manganese: 9% of DV;
Vitamin B6: 11% of DV;
Folate: 9% of DV
• Copper: 15% of the daily value
• Potassium: 5% of the daily value
Sauerkraut is especially nutritious because it ferments, a process in which microorganisms on the cabbage digest natural sugars and convert them to carbon dioxide and organic acids.
Fermentation begins when yeast and bacteria found naturally on the cabbage, your hands, and in the air come into contact with the sugars in the cabbage.
Sauerkraut fermentation promotes the growth of beneficial probiotics, which are also found in products such as yoghurt and kefir.
Probiotics are bacteria that have significant health benefits. They also aid in the digestion of foods, increasing your gut’s ability to absorb the vitamins and minerals they contain. Read our post on microbiome here
http://asmashealthyyou.in/what-is-microbiome/
Sauerkraut, unlike cabbage, can be high in sodium. If you’re watching your salt intake, keep this in mind.
2. Enhances digestion
It is estimated that your gut contains more than 100 trillion microorganisms, or “gut flora,” which is more than ten times the total number of cells in your body .
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that act as the first line of defence against toxins and harmful bacteria in unpasteurized sauerkraut. They can also help with digestion and general health rusted Source.
Probiotics, such as those found in sauerkraut, can help restore the bacterial balance in your gut after it has been disrupted by antibiotic use. This can help to reduce or eliminate antibiotic-induced diarrhoea
Sauerkraut, like most fermented foods, contains a variety of enzymes that aid in the breakdown of nutrients into smaller, more easily digestible molecules.
3. Immune system booster
Sauerkraut contains immune-boosting probiotics as well as nutrients.
A stronger gut lining aids in the prevention of unwanted substances “leaking” into your body and triggering an immune response
Maintaining a healthy gut flora also aids in the prevention of harmful bacteria growth and may even increase the production of natural antibodies.
4. May aid in weight loss
Consuming sauerkraut on a regular basis may help you lose weight and keep it off.
This is due in part to the fact that sauerkraut, like most vegetables, is low in calories and high in fibre. High fibre diets keep you fuller for longer, which may help you naturally reduce your daily calorie intake.
The probiotic content of sauerkraut may also help you lose weight.
5. Aids in stress reduction and brain health maintenance:
While your mood can influence what you eat, it is also thought that the opposite is true. What you eat can have an impact on your mood and brain function.
It is discovered that the bacteria in your gut may be able to send messages to your brain, influencing how it functions and perceives the world.
For example, fermented, probiotic foods like sauerkraut help to create a healthy gut flora, which research suggests may help reduce stress and maintain brain health.
Probiotics have been shown to improve memory and alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, autism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Sauerkraut may also help to maintain brain health by increasing the absorption of mood-regulating minerals like magnesium and zinc in your gut.
6. Could lower the risk of certain cancers:
Sauerkraut’s main ingredient, cabbage, contains antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that may help lower the risk of certain cancers.
These compounds, according to researchers, may help reduce DNA damage, prevent cell mutations, and prevent the excessive cell growth that typically leads to tumour development (58Trusted Source, 59, 60).
7. May benefit heart health
Sauerkraut may help keep your heart healthy.
That’s because it’s high in fibre and probiotics, both of which may help lower cholesterol levels.
Furthermore, sauerkraut is one of the few plant sources of menaquinone, also known as vitamin K2.
Vitamin K2 is thought to lower the risk of heart disease by preventing calcium deposits from forming in the arteries.
Over a 7-10 year study period, regular consumption of vitamin-K2-rich foods was linked to a 57% lower risk of dying from heart disease.
In conclusion
Sauerkraut is an extremely nutritious and healthy food.
It contains probiotics and vitamin K2, both of which are known to have health benefits, as well as a variety of other nutrients.
Eating sauerkraut may help you improve your digestion, strengthen your immune system, lower your risk of certain diseases, and even lose weight.
To reap the most benefits, consume a small amount of sauerkraut every day.
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