A Bedtime Snack

5 Health Benefits Of Sauerkraut That You May Not Have Known About

20 October 2021 by Zoey Howell

Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage that's commonly used in some German, Polish, and other Central and Eastern European dishes. Whether you choose to eat your sauerkraut as a side dish or on a bun with bratwurst, you can enjoy some additional health benefits with this food. If you want to improve your health, eating more sauerkraut can be good for your body in these five ways.

1. Fewer Illnesses

Eating sauerkraut can be a great way for you to protect yourself against germs and viruses that can make you sick. Sauerkraut can boost the immune system's strength and efficiency to keep you safe from illnesses. The vitamin C and iron in sauerkraut are excellent for cellular health and can help make your immune system stronger. If you ever happen to become ill, eating sauerkraut may lessen the severity of your symptoms and ensure a faster recovery.

2. Better Digestion

Sauerkraut can give your body more probiotics, which are the good type of bacteria that can aid in digestive health. These probiotics may reduce gas, diarrhea, and other problems that can make digesting food properly more difficult. The high fiber content in sauerkraut can also make bowel movements easier.

3. Possible Cancer Prevention

Even though the results of some studies that gauge the effectiveness of sauerkraut for cancer prevention are inconclusive, you might still lower your risks of developing certain forms of cancer if you eat more sauerkraut. The increased levels of glucosinolates and antioxidants that are found in sauerkraut can give the body better protection against cancer. The extra probiotics in the gut from sauerkraut can help prevent inflammation that may lead to certain cancers in the digestive system.

4. Weight Loss

Sauerkraut is a low-calorie food that can be a great addition to any diet plan. High amounts of fiber are also in sauerkraut, which can help you stay fuller for longer periods and reduce snack cravings in between meals. The increase in probiotics that sauerkraut provides can also be good for weight loss.

5. Improved Mental Health

If you find yourself feeling sad or anxious a lot of the time, eating some sauerkraut can calm your mind and body and elicit a feel-good effect. A study showed that sauerkraut and other fermented foods may help curb social anxiety symptoms. The additional probiotics from sauerkraut can also be good for lowering stress and improving brain functioning.

You can make many of your meals taste better and enjoy all the wonderful health benefits of sauerkraut when you increase your sauerkraut intake. There are many recipes that can teach you how to make sauerkraut, or you can order sauerkraut that's already made by a specialty food supplier. 

For more information on the health benefits of sauerkraut, contact a company near you.

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