Fermented Food Consumption
- Consistently consume fermented foods daily for gut microbiome health and inflammation reduction.
- Aim for up to six servings per day, focusing on low-sugar options like plain yogurt, kimchi, or sauerkraut.
- Ensure the product contains live, active cultures by checking for refrigeration requirements.
- Avoid non-refrigerated fermented products or those with added sugar, as they may not offer the same benefits.
Episode AI notes
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The consistent consumption of fermented foods on a daily basis leads to better outcomes for the gut microbiome and reduces inflammation.
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Fermented foods such as plain yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut containing live, active cultures are important for gut health.
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Ensure the presence of live cultures in fermented foods by purchasing them from the non-refrigerated section of the grocery store.
The Balance of Microbiome Diversity: Is More Always Better?
A healthy microbiome is one that has a lot of diversity, including different types of bacteria. Adding probiotics and prebiotics can enhance diversity and improve mood, digestion, and the immune system. However, excessive intake of probiotics can lead to brain fog due to certain metabolites in the gut. There are studies that discuss the link between excessive probiotic intake and brain fog. While increasing microbiotal diversity is generally beneficial, there are thresholds beyond which it can become problematic. Having too few microbial species is not ideal.