How Sauerkraut Promotes Digestion and Heart Health
By Madhusudhan Tammisetti
Sauerkraut, which translates in German as sour cabbage, is a fermented cabbage and spice side dish. Sauerkraut is one of the earliest methods of preserving vegetables, dating back to 400 B.C. People link the aforementioned recipe with many Eastern European nations, where this vegetable is prominently included among their ethnic meals. Other stories claim that it originated in China and was only transported to European nations during the period of the Roman Empire.
The health benefits of sauerkraut include better digestion, a stronger immune system, better heart health, fewer asthma attacks, more energy, better mental health, and stronger bones. Other advantages include stress reduction, weight loss, skincare, and eye benefits, combating allergies and inflammation, and avoiding scurvy.
Promotes Heart Health
Fiber is essential for both heart health and digestion. It aids in the removal of fatty deposits inside artery walls, lowering the risk of atherosclerosis, strokes, heart attacks, and other heart conditions. Also, a 100 g portion of sauerkraut has 6.6 mcg menaquinone, which aids in the prevention of heart disease by reducing calcium deposits inside the arteries.
Promotes Digestion
You can find good amount of fiber in cabbage. Fiber is widely recognized as one of the most important components of any diet for digestive health. Fiber promotes regular bowel movements, removes excess gas and flatulence, and promotes smooth peristaltic movement. As cabbage ferments, it creates a broad range of bacteria. Such probiotics, also known as beneficial bacteria, live within the gut and function as a defense against different pathogens that enter mostly through the food we consume.
Also, sauerkraut's beneficial bacteria aid in the restoration of the bacterial balance in the gut following antibiotic treatment. A bowl of sauerkraut has about 3 billion colony-forming units. Similarly, sauerkraut includes enzymes that aid in the breakdown of minerals for greater absorption. Probiotics are effective for lowering symptoms caused due to irritable bowel syndrome because they help decrease inflammation and eradicate microorganisms that may live inside the digestive system.
Promotes Mental Health
What you consume may have an impact on the brain. As a result, consuming foods rich in probiotics that support a healthy gut may benefit the brain. Experts ascribe this to the interaction through the vagus nerve, which is influenced by the gut's beneficial bacteria. Probiotics have also been found to improve memory.
Boosts Energy
Cabbage has iron, which helps in energy production by enhancing oxygenation and metabolism of cells and organs. Increased iron levels may help avoid anemia caused due to iron deficiency and its associated symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and severe menstrual cramps.
Good for Eyes and Skincare
You may find Vitamin A in abundance in sauerkraut. It's an antioxidant that may help the body destroy free radicals and prevents premature aging of the skin. Vitamin A is also good for eye health and lowers the incidence of macular degeneration and cataracts.
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