You've seen it everywhere, jars of fermented cabbage known as sauerkraut. Besides tasting delicious in hot dogs do you know the benefits of this food?
Like many foods with health benefits it is not new. It has been eaten as far back as the 4th century BC and is gaining popularity every year. So ... why is eating sauerkraut potentially a good thing for you?
Sauerkraut has good bacteria known as probiotics which help fight off the bad bacteria which make us sick and are linked to diseases like heart disease. Having more of the probiotics also helps to improve your immune system. Having a good balance of good bacteria is also important for other functions like helping your body take in the nutrients you eat into your cells, as well as helping you digest your food. This can influence your weight and waistline. The good bacteria really are mighty!
On top of this sauerkraut contains vitamins A which helps your immunity, B which helps your body convert energy from the food you eat, C which helps support your immune function as well as keeps your skin looking young as a part of collagen and K which helps keep your bones strong.
For those wanting to keep their waistline trim, taught and terrific, sauerkraut is low in energy but high in fibre which means you will fill up without filling out.
Other potential benefits of including this food in your diet are:
- It may help treat symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and Parkinson's disease. Although sauerkraut is reported to mix with some medicines and is not a good idea before at least talking to your GP!
- Sauerkraut may decrease allergic reactions, but more research is needed in a more controlled environment to make sure it is the sauerkraut which has the positive effect and not something else.
Take home message: Sauerkraut has many health benefits including probiotics, vitamins and minerals and low energy but lots of nutrients for your body. Why not try adding some sauerkraut to your salad, on the side of some mashed avocado at breakfast or into a sandwich.
