W
hat’s the deal with
digestive health? The digestive system
requires a delicate balance of a
diverse concoction of acids, bases,
enzymes and microbes to function
properly.
The key players in our digestive health
include the trillions of bacteria that set
up shop in our large intestine known
as probiotics. Feeding primarily on
undigested fibres, starches and
carbohydrates in our food, these gut
bugs play an essential role in our
overall health, including liberating or
creating some essential nutrients,
building natural barriers to keep toxins
from being absorbed, and stimulating
a strong immune system.
Fermented foods are another great
source of probiotics. The fermentation
process can break down barriers to
some of the nutrients in food. This
helps us to access and absorb more
of the healthful nutrients in our food,
including phytonutrients, some amino
acids, B-vitamins and some minerals
like zinc and magnesium. Fermented
foods are another great way of
supporting digestive health.
by The Canadian Health Food Association
22
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