The Surprising Health Benefits of Sauerkraut
If I am perfectly honest I haven’t spent much of my life thinking about sauerkraut. It’s a European dish of fermented cabbage that often tastes as good as it sounds.
After a brief introduction on top of a sausage sandwich at a fancy market (thought it was onion), sauerkraut has slowly started infiltrating the domestic offerings from our kitchen.
This infiltration inhabits a spectrum from “wow Josh you should try this with sauerkraut” to “you’re being a pain in the arse, it’s good for you!” Like any attentive husband a meagre 18 months after my wife learned to make it from scratch and provide it to our family, I am ready to get know this pickle-y and tangy beast.
It’s good for your insides
For there was one thing about sauerkraut that made a lot of sense and one thing that blew me away. So let’s start with common sense first I guess.
Sauerkraut is good for your guts! The reason it has a unique (occasionally challenging) taste is that sauerkraut is fermented, meaning it is packed with probiotics. Meaning that getting stuck into some funky cabbage is going to make the good bacteria in your gut flourish.
This will make sure your digestion system is getting the best out of the foods you’re eating. It also makes the body more robust against a host of chronic diseases.
It’s good for your brain
Then the whole fermented veggies thing gets a bit crazy. There is strong evidence that sauerkraut is beneficial in regulating mental health. This got my attention in a “how the hell” kind of way. Also because eating this could really help to manage my anxiety. Fermented foods can assist in making you less mental in a couple of ways. Firstly, healthy insides
This got my attention in a “how the hell” kind of way. Also, because eating this could really help to manage my anxiety. Fermented foods can assist in making you less mental in a couple of ways. Firstly, healthy insides
Fermented foods can assist in making you less mental in a couple of ways. Firstly, healthy insides mean that it is less likely that “leaky gut” will increase the risk of developing depression.
Secondly, more good bacteria means less inflammation and excess cortisol. This reduction of inflammation is responsible for improving the symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression.
Lastly, this sometimes taste terrorist can even increase GABA production. GABA is a neurotransmitter that will support your brain not to freak out every time the stress in your life increases.
Want to learn more?
Even though I may joke about tolerating a new taste or challenging flavor invading my plate I feel that I can learn to love this misunderstood fridge dweller.
Why not be brave and make your own? Here is a really easy sauerkraut recipe.
I really enjoyed reading this by Dr Axe.This article sums up what you need to know to give sauerkraut a try. The next time Sauerkraut is made at our place I will definitely be looking to get involved.
