Table of contents:
- What are some of the good things about fermented foods?
- Are there fermented foods that are not good for health?
- Can the good bacteria from fermented foods be harmful?
Surely you are familiar with tempeh, yogurt, tape, oncom, soy sauce, bread, and many more. These foods are some examples of foods that are made by the fermentation process. Fermented food is food made with the help of microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, and others. Of course, these foods are fermented for special purposes, such as to add flavor to food, add nutritional value, or to make it more durable. However, are all fermented foods definitely good for the body?
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What are some of the good things about fermented foods?
Fermented foods have been around since time immemorial. Our ancestors used this method to enjoy a meal. Not only to make it taste good or increase its shelf life, but fermented food is also good for health.
The good bacteria are deliberately added to food and the result is that the food is turned into other forms of food. When you consume these fermented foods, the number of good bacteria in your intestines can increase. It is good for improving your gut health.
Your intestinal tract actually contains many different types of bacteria. One of them is type Lactobacillus rhamnosus which can help balance the environment in digestion, strengthen intestinal defenses, increase immunity, and help reduce harmful substances produced by pathogens. Other types of good bacteria can also help treat colitis, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
In addition, the addition of good bacteria to fermented foods can also increase the nutritional value of these foods, especially vitamin B. An example is tempeh, the nutritional value of tempeh is higher than soybeans (the main ingredient for making tempe). The good bacteria in the gut can also increase your body's ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Are there fermented foods that are not good for health?
There have been a lot of fermented foods that have come from various countries. Each country may have its own fermented foods that have been passed down sustainably from their ancestors. However, are there fermented foods that are bad for health?
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Reporting from the BBC, according to Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology from King's College London, there are a lot of fermented foods and some of them have never been subjected to formal testing so it is difficult to know what these foods do to our bodies. However, no fermented food is harmful if it is produced naturally, rather than using vinegar, continues Spector.
However, some of the byproducts of the fermentation process may be harmful to your health if too much of them enter the body. For example, tape which produces a by-product in the form of alcohol. Even though the alcohol contained in the tape is only a little, if you eat too much it can affect the cells in your body. Another byproduct resulting from fermentation is lactic acid. If there is too much lactic acid in your body, it can make your muscles stiff and sore.
So, there may not be any fermented foods that can harm your health if eaten in sufficient quantities. However, if too much is eaten, this may be detrimental to your health. Some of the byproducts that result from fermentation can be detrimental to health. However, there are many other fermented foods that can provide more health benefits than disadvantages.
Can the good bacteria from fermented foods be harmful?
Eating good bacteria or probiotics is good for your health, especially gut health. However, consuming too much good bacteria can also harm your health. The good bacteria can give off gas when they eat sugar from your body. So, if there are too many good bacteria, too much gas is produced, and your stomach becomes gas and bloated. Usually, you may experience gas and bloating when you first take probiotic supplements.
Besides that, there are also several other effects if you eat too much fermented food. As shown by a 2011 study in Cancer Science, consumption of high levels of fermented soy foods is associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.
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However, there is no exact amount of how much fermented food is said to be consumed too much. This depends on you, your body's tolerance, and your body's ability to digest these foods. One serving of yogurt per day may be sufficient for your good bacteria. As long as you don't feel sick after consuming large amounts of fermented foods, this may not be a problem for you. A person's ability to tolerate the amount of good bacteria in the body may vary.
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