Fermented foods for all your gut issues.
Did you ever think that that plain bowl of curd, that paper thin dosa can make you stronger against viruses? No. you always believed in your supplements. Read further to know how you can use fermented foods to boost your immunity-
You must be aware with curd and buttermilk being a fermented food, but do you realise that even ghee is a fermented product? Ghee is prepared from the top fatty layer found on the milk which is usually left to ferment and later subjected to heat to get the clarified ghee.
Another great product in the list is a shrikhand. It a sweet which is fermented jelly like dessert mainly consumed in Gujarat. Rajasthan. It has been proven that it reduces systolic blood pressure, treats gastro enteretitis, diarrhoea and acidity.
Buttermilk/ Chaach is mainly prepared as a byproduct during manufacturing of butter has been proven to cure cardiovascular disease, inflammation and diseases like cancer.
Misti dahi is another very famous Bengali fermented dairy product which has been proven to cure various gastrointestinal diseases.
And the very humble curd Dahi is a traditional fermented milk product prepared from boiled cow milk or buffalo milk followed by cooling and addition of suitable culture . Dahi is a rich source of essential nutrients. It contains thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin, and cyanocobalamin. It is also a source of essential minerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium required for immunity boosting. it has a variety of bacterial strains present in them which work altogether to decrease hypercholesterolemia, cure abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, cramps, flatulence, nausea. Dahi also exhibits anti-diabetic activity by suppressing streptozotocin induced diabetes and restrict depletion of insulin.
Buttermilk, locally called lassi has benefits like curing various gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhoea, dysentery, bloating, nausea, vomiting. Lassi is a high energetic drink due to its high nutritional qualities. It is a rich source of amino acids, peptides, vitamins, minerals, etc. It contains low amount of fat which is acceptable for obese people. High amount of calcium content helps to improve bone health. Lassi contains higher amount of vitamin D which helps to build up strong immune system. Lassi is a good source of lactic acid bacteria which help to improve the digestion system.
Another fermented sweet, rabadi reduces coronary hear disease, cancer, maintain blood glucose level.
Boosting immunity is the most critical protective approach against externally acquired infections like the SARS-COV2 outbreak that is currently sweeping the globe. Food has an important part in boosting the body's immunity. Fermented foods, particularly fermented milk foods, are high in bioactive peptides, which improve immunity. Dahi, lassi, srhikhand, and other traditional fermented milk cuisines thrive in India. These products can assist in boosting our immune system's ability to resist the Covid-19 virus in the current pandemic scenario.
Now you must be wondering, how will fermented foods boost my immunity specifically? Firstly, no food works in isolation. Food consists of variety of nutrients which benefit various areas of your health at the same time. Secondly, you learnt how all of these foods have a common benefit of taking care of your gut? Gut, is that part of the system where 70% of the immune system is located. Yes, you read/heard that right. If you are interested in knowing how gut health affects your immune system, read You are looking in the wrong direction to improve your immunity (provide link)
