Diet Rich in Fermented Foods May Lower Inflammation
Fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, kombucha tea and others, contain probiotics, which are microorganisms that are crucial to healthy digestion. Probiotics help to strengthen the gut microbiome, which is made up of the trillions of microorganisms that live in your digestive tract and elsewhere and contribute to good health. A study published in the journal Cell (July 2021) found that a diet rich in fermented foods had a beneficial effect on the microbiome, which in turn affected inflammation. The study involved 36 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to a high-fiber diet or a diet high in fermented foods for 10 weeks. The researchers examined the effects of these two diets on the microbiome and immune system. The fermented food diet increased the diversity of the microbe species and decreased markers of inflammation. More research is needed to see if this translates to clincial benefits.
