There is a lot of new research on fermented foods and IBS. Here’s a quick look at what you should consider.
Fermented foods are becoming more widely available as more is understood about how they impact our well-being, from improved gut health to bolstered immune systems and more. Fermentation can increase the nutrient availability in foods and increase food variety in your diet. But what do you need to know about fermented foods and IBS?
If you have chronic gut discomfort or a health condition like IBS that affects gut health, you are probably very careful about what you eat. Many nutritionists that work with IBS patients are coming forward to endorse the benefits of fermented foods and IBS because ferments can reduce uncomfortable digestive symptoms.
While fermented foods are becoming easier to find in mainstream grocery stores, they are not all made equally. Hosta Hill is committed to producing high-quality, naturally fermented veggies, packaged by hand and sold raw and unpasteurized. With award-winning, complex flavors developed slowly through wild fermentation, a natural preservation process, you can’t go wrong.
Enjoy our sauerkraut, kimchi, hot sauces and krautonics today!
Fermented foods and IBS
Fermented foods are recognized as having some very real health benefits for anyone who consumes them. If you suffer from IBS, there are some fermented foods that may be great for you, depending on your symptoms and triggers. Of course, as with any medical condition, speak to your doctor or nutritionist about what may be right for you.
Fermented foods enhance the digestive process, increasing nutrient availability. Think of it this way: the cellular structure of a leafy vegetable can actually make it hard for our bodies to break it down and get to all the amazing vitamins within, even with a digestive system that is not plagued by chronic illness.
But fermentation is like a “pre-digestion” process, breaking the foods down into smaller nutritional parts that can get into your system more efficiently. Taking a vegetable like cabbage, already chock full of vitamins and high in fiber, itself great for gut health, and fermenting it means that your body more easily accesses those vitamins.
Fermented foods and their living cultures also have a positive effect on gut flora, which can reduce painful digestive symptoms like gas and bloating, and enhance the immune system.
In addition, because the sugars in the vegetables have been broken down through fermentation, eating them may result in less gas and bloating than eating the same food unprocessed.
Low FODMAP diet
Research shows that some fermented foods can be higher in FODMAPS than the unprocessed version. For example, Monash University found that sauerkraut made from white cabbage was higher in FODMAPS than plain white cabbage. If you are managing your symptoms with the FODMAP diet, make sure you look into which fermented foods will work for you.
The decision about how to consider fermented foods and IBS depends on your individual symptoms and experience of IBS. Fermented foods can be good for adding living cultures to your microbiome, increasing your intake of fiber and other nutrients and vitamins that can bolster gut comfort and overall health, and increasing diet variety, which is simply good for all of us.
Try Hosta Hill
Hosta Hill is a family-owned, women-run business, committed to producing high-quality, naturally fermented Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Hot Sauce, and uplifting Krautonics. Packaged by hand and sold raw and unpasteurized, we take pride in our bold, vibrant healing foods.
Check out our offers online, or see where you can get yours locally in New England and New York!