Did you know sauerkraut is a probiotic food and has a ton of health benefits? This post will explain the 9 benefits of sauerkraut and why you should eat it every day!
In This Post You'll Find:
What Is Sauerkraut?
Sauerkraut's name comes from the words, "sauer" (sour) and "kraut" (cabbage). The name may lead you to think that sauerkraut originated in Germany. But in fact, it’s an invention of the Chinese, who first fermented cabbage in rice wine 2,000 years ago when fermentation was used to keep food from spoiling.
Sauerkraut is a probiotic food, which is what gives it so many benefits.
What Is Probiotic Food?
Probiotics are living microorganisms that can benefit us, including an improved immune system. Fermented cabbage is considered probiotic, as are kombucha, kefir, and yogurt. Fermentation takes one kind of food and changes it into another. Like in this instance – cabbage is changed into sauerkraut.
Does Sauerkraut Help With Inflammation?
According to Shahbazi, et al. (2021), research strong supports. "the health-promoting properties of sauerkraut by exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic activities and protecting against oxidative DNA damage" mainly through through modulating gut microbiota.
A healthy gut, further, can aid in the reduction of inflammation because when a person’s digestive system is functioning properly, overall general health is improved.
Studies also show fermented cabbage has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties because of the presence of phytochemicals. Sauerkraut sits in its own fermented juices and is preserved with enzymes, vitamins, and beneficial bacteria without the loss of any of them through a heat process. This makes it a superfood when it comes to the gut.
Read my post about getting rid of inflammation for more info.
Benefits of Sauerkraut
Due to sauerkraut's probiotics, many researchers have studied the impact of sauerkraut on health benefits. Here is a breakdown of the benefits per the studies:
- Sauerkraut's probiotics can aid the digestive process and maintain healthy gut flora.
- Sauerkraut is full of Vitamins A, B, C, and K.
- A controlled study showed that Vitamin K, important to bone quality, is a key component in sauerkraut.
MORE HEALTHY FOODS WITH ADDED NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS
Now that you’ve read this post, I bet you’d like to know more about other beneficial foods. Take a look here:
- 21 Top Foods High in Fiber | How and Why to Get More Fiber in Your Diet
- Does Intermittent Fasting Work for Weight Loss? Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting
- 10 Benefits of Eggs and Why You Should Eat Them More Often!
- 19 Benefits of Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar + How to Drink It
- Eating Clean for Beginners
Charlie McDowell
Interesting things you mention here, especially folate and what it does. However, your part on that saurkraut helps in bones should be more refined. There are two Vitamin Ks, one is vitamin K1 which helps in blood clotting. And then there is vitamin K2 which helps placing calcium in the right places. K2 therefore helps to get rid of calcium in the arteries and eyes which causes people other health issues. If Vitamin A and D are present along with magnsuims K2 will do its work. K2 mostly comes from grass fed animals, cows-milk, meat, cheese etc. Natto a Japanese fermented soya bean, is the only vegetarian option I have heard of.
Charlie McDowell
There are a lot of vegtables that provide vitiamin K, specifically K1, whick helps in blood clotting. To help with bones and the proper placement of calcium are a result of Vitamin K2. The only vegatitarian K2 food I have heard of is Natto, a fermented Japanese soya bean.
Dona Johnston
How good is sauerkraut for pregnant women? Any problems? My granddaughter is pregnant, gluten intolerant, and since pregnant Has acne really bad.