Fermented Foods and Intestinal Health
The modern
world is changing every single day. Because of this constant state of change,
our bodies are frequently having to adjust.
We have a food supply being degraded and depleted of nutritional
content, which in turn, causes our bodies to become depleted. Our soil and
water is contaminated with antibiotics and deadly fertilizers. All of which
become part of the food chain we rely upon. Because of this, antibiotics are
failing and superbugs like MRSA are on the rise. Lack of nutrition and the
overuse of antibiotics are just a couple of the things wreaking havoc on our
intestinal health. But there are ways to combat this and keep the gut healthy.
Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around for thousands of years and the approach
of this medical system is to treat the patient holistically. TCM has been shown
to be effective at treating a wide variety of ailments, including digestive
issues. Part of this is because TCM focuses heavily on diet and nutrition.
Qi is equated
with energy and every organ, pathway and cell in the human body is composed of
energy. For the body to function
properly, Qi needs to be sufficient at all times. One of the best ways to
maintain sufficient Qi is through our daily diet. Science is proving what TCM
practitioners have known for centuries, our digestive health is vital for the
cells of the body to function optimally.
The
gastrointestinal tract acts as a “second brain.” It has the ability to
constantly transform us. The Human Microbiome Project is an ongoing study
confirming microscopic bacterial colonies in our digestive tract have very
important jobs to do. The bacterial colonies help keep us healthy both
physically and mentally. But because of human intervention, these bacterial
colonies in our guts are becoming sick, depleted and are dying.
To rejuvenate
these gastrointestinal bacterial colonies, many people are turning to TCM for
help. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal
formulas are great methods of reviving our gastrointestinal Qi. The stomach and
spleen are the two main pathways TCM practitioners focus on when treating
somebody who exhibits digestive Qi deficiencies. TCM can help to repair the Qi
of the spleen and stomach meridians. But TCM can’t do it alone.
This is where
fermented foods come into play. Fermented foods have been around for centuries
as well. Fermentation is one of the
oldest attempts to preserve food. But in today’s world, fermented foods, like
sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt are being utilized to help restore the healthy
bacterial colonies found within the gastrointestinal tract. In fermentation,
bacteria or yeast feed on natural sugars found in foods. This makes certain foods easier for the gut
to digest and allows for the nutrients to be absorbed during digestion. People
who do not ingest fermented foods can actually develop immune deficiencies
which can lead to serious illness and disease. For instance, sauerkraut, which
is fermented cabbage, actually has anti-carcinogenic components that can help
prevent cancer. Yogurt can help prevent colorectal cancer, breast cancer and
yeast infections. Kimchi has been shown to help improve symptoms of asthma and
other allergic reactions, while also lowering LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels.
Incorporating
fermented foods into the daily diet and getting regular acupuncture treatments
that help balance out the body’s Qi, can lead to a very healthy
gastrointestinal tract. And when the gut is happy, the body is happy.
888.375.5444
Call to Schedule a Free Eliminate Poor Digestion Evaluation. We will get to the root of the problem, discover the hidden blockages that slow down your healing process and create a plan to bring you back to balance. You will leave feeling re-energized, rejuvenated and ready to get rid of poor digestion once and for all.
