Fermented foods have been part of traditional diets for generations. Homemade curd, fermented vegetables and pickles have long been prepared and eaten in different food cultures. But with gut health becoming an increasingly popular wellness topic, fermented foods are now often presented as something everyone needs to add to their diet.
According to Mugdha Pradhan, functional medicine practitioner, certified breathwork practitioner and Founder & CEO of iThrive, fermented foods can have a place in a healthy diet, but they are not necessarily important for everyone.
What happens when food is fermented?
Fermentation is a natural process in which microorganisms break down components of food. In this manner, depending on the nature of food, it will be possible to develop certain nutrients and organisms which will improve the digestive process and increase the diversity of bacteria in the gut microbiome.
On the other hand, improving the health of one’s gut is not only about eating more fermented foods.
Are fermented foods good for everyone?
For someone with a healthy, well-functioning digestive system, fermented foods can be a useful addition to the diet. But the same foods may not work equally well for everyone. Pradhan points out that people dealing with bloating, SIBO, histamine intolerance, gut inflammation or other digestive issues may actually feel worse after consuming certain fermented foods. This is why she does not recommend blindly adding probiotics or fermented foods simply because they are marketed as being “good for the gut”.
In other words, a food being considered healthy does not automatically mean that it will suit every digestive system.
Look at what is happening underneath
Rather than simply adding another food marketed as gut-friendly, Pradhan suggests looking at the bigger picture. Are you digesting and absorbing your food properly? Are you eating enough quality protein and getting adequate micronutrients? Factors such as chronic stress, infections, inflammation and poor sleep can also affect the gut.
Until these underlying factors are addressed, adding another food labelled as “gut healthy” may not solve the actual problem.
Not every ‘fermented’ product is the same
There is also a difference between traditionally fermented food and packaged products that carry a fermented label. Pradhan says a traditionally fermented food is very different from an ultra-processed product that is marketed as fermented while also containing high amounts of sugar, additives or other unnecessary ingredients.
So simply seeing the word “fermented” on a product does not necessarily tell you everything about its overall quality.
So, are fermented foods important?
The response to this is that fermented foods can be a part of a healthy diet but not necessarily something that everyone needs. The focus, therefore, should not be on eating more fermented food simply because it is currently trending. Instead, the more useful question is what your individual gut actually needs.
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