The Health Benefits of Sauerkraut

While it has been around since the past 2000 years, fermented cabbage is not a dish that makes us cheer and shout.

One of the top foods in the fermented world, sauerkraut is made from fermented cabbage and salt that gives it its sour and salty taste. While this may not sound so appealing to the taste buds for most of us, but you are sure to fall in love with it after learning about its health boosting benefits.

Most of the taste of Sauerkraut comes from the action of bacteria. It is grown in a saline environment, containing salt. The fermentation process that it undergoes is crucial because it promotes the growth of beneficial bacterial strains such as Lactobacilli. The healthy bacterial species helps restore the balance of bacteria in our gut, supports digestive health, and alleviates any digestive issues.

In short, it is highly nutritious and good for our body in so many different ways that no wonder it is a top recommended fermented food.

For starters, Sauerkraut is gut healing. It can relieve symptoms of an upset stomach, excess gas and embarrassing flatulence. Not only that but it may also help improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. A study showed that eating sauerkraut for 6 weeks improved IBS symptom severity and gut microbiome composition.

Sauerkraut is a stress reliever

Eating fermented cabbage may also help cure that sinking feeling in the gut that you may experience as a result of anxiety and stress. It contains the strain, Lactobacillus casei Shirota, that has been shown to influence the production of cortisol and minimize physical symptoms of stress. That’s not all. This ancient cabbage also promotes the increased absorption of mood-balancing micronutrients, like magnesium and zinc to relieve stress.

If you are looking to improve memory, then that’s another reason that Sauerkraut is for you. Study after study have shown that fermented foods and probiotics can positively affect memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

These brain benefits of sauerkraut are because the gut is our second brain. Isn’t that absolutely fascinating? The gut communicates with the brain via millions of bacteria that hold the power to optimize brain health and function. Diversity of gut bacteria is the key to boosting brain performance, decreasing stress, and enhancing well-being.

This is why maintaining a healthy balance of gut flora and microbiota in the digestive tract is important for maintaining brain health and overall well-being. Fermented foods, like sauerkraut, are a perfect way to nourish the gut and in return our overall health.

As you can see there is a win, win, win in every serving of fermented cabbage. We hope these benefits have instilled an increased desire to eat more sauerkraut.

Check out our recipe section for dishes that use sauerkraut as a key ingredientI