There are certain things (foods, activities, etc) that just make you feel #healthy like sweating or eating dark leafy greens. Drinking #kombucha has that instant effect on me. I do have to say it’s an acquired (slightly tangy) taste and expensive (unfortunately) at $4 a 16oz bottle (hence why I only indulge once or twice a week). This #fermented #tea has both #bacteria and #yeast and is naturally #lowsugar. It’s great for #digestion, has #immuneboosting properties, helps increase #energy, and some animal studies suggest it has #preventive and #curative effects on a number of #metabolic diseases (too early to confirm). My favorite is #blackchia from @gtskombucha.
FYI: You can totally make your own, and they say it’s relatively easy. Haven’t tried yet… maybe when Theo is a little older ;)
#bushwicknutrition #bushwick #lazynutrition #lazynutritionist #probiotics

Shopping for a healthy lunch. I usually don’t shop @wholefoods since it’s a mystery how 5 items equate to $25 spent, BUT compliments of our dear friends @jspicer8 & Farrah, I am splurging. Greens + #hummus (protein) + #crispbread from #DoctorKracker (protein and hardy carb) + #cherries for dessert + #kombucha from @gtskombucha for digestive support. I am all set! #healthylunch #wholefoods #lazynutritionist

Fermented & Cultured Foods 101

(Kvass Soup, Kefir, Pickles)

Fermented and cultured foods have long been touted for their health benefits, but do you know why? A staple in many cultures, fermented foods like kimchi, miso, sauerkraut and kombucha, and cultured foods like kefir, Greek yogurt and buttermilk promote the proliferation of good bacteria in our gut, which aid in digestion and boost our immune system. Having a healthy gut filled with good bacteria, known as probiotics, can help us reduce gas and bloating after meals and even shed a few pounds!

Fruits, vegetables and fiber from whole foods can help promote the growth of strong, healthy bacteria, but, unfortunately, many things in our environment wreak havoc on a healthy gut.

Good Bacteria, Don’t Go! 

Step 1: Don’t eat processed foods. Many ingredients in processed foods are foreign to our digestive tract and we are not equipped with the right enzymes to break them down. Unhealthy bacteria feed on these foreign ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, which cause them to proliferate and potentially outnumber the healthy bacteria. An uncomfortable side effect of this process is gas, which makes us feel bloated. Cutting down or avoiding processed foods, as well as adding cultured and fermented foods, can help the good bacteria flourish.

Step 2: Check your antibiotic use. Along with wiping out the bacteria that makes us sick, antibiotics clear the healthy lining of good bacteria in our gut. If you are prescribed antibiotics for longer than three days, you may consider taking a probiotic supplement during and for at least a week after treatment. Recommendations can range anywhere from 1 to 30 Billion CFU’s (Colony Forming Units) per day, depending on age and symptoms. Some of my favorite probiotic supplements include: Align® probiotic, Culturelle® probiotic, Designs For Health probiotic synergy, and Garden of Life raw probiotics. 

How can we bring the good bacteria back?

Eat cultured and fermented foods! (Of course…) These foods contain healthy bacteria, yeasts and/or fungi that set up shop in our gut as we digest them. To start, aim for one serving of these cultured and fermented foods per day.

Here is a list of fermented and cultured foods to try:

Fermented

• Pickles
• Pickled Fruits and Vegetables
• Miso
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Homemade Ketchup
• Kimchi
• Kvass
• Fermented Salsa
• Sourdough Bread 

Cultured

• Kefir
• Buttermilk
• Cultured Sour Cream (low fat)
• Lebneh Cheese (low fat)

Let me know what your favorite cultured or fermented food is at Bushwick Nutrition! 

Co-Written by Debi Zvi RD, CDN & Alanna Cabrero, MS, RD, CDN 

Originally posted on NYHRC Tumblr 

Reference: Probiotics & Fermented Foods. Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op. 

Edited by the Tamara Cabrero & NYHRC Team 

Kombucha: The Healthy Alternative to Soda

Looking to quench your thirst and kick your soda addiction? Finally, there is a delicious and healthy alternative—kombucha! What is that? Kombucha is a fermented tea that typically includes a mixture of yeast, good bacteria, a natural sweetener and black tea. It’s fizzy like soda but very low in sugar—2 grams per 8 ounce serving versus 27 grams for soda. 

Kombucha Nutrition

Kombucha is known as a functional food, or drink in this case, as it has additional health benefits. Functional foods don’t just provide us with energy in the form of fat, carbohydrates and protein, but they also contain properties that promote health. In this case, kombucha is an antioxidant-rich drink with organic acids, enzymes, probiotics and B vitamins. The organic acids remove toxins from the liver and digestive tract. The enzymes and probiotics aid in nutrient absorption, gut health, waste removal and support immune function, and the B vitamins enhance metabolism.

Raw kombucha is sold in its original flavor or with aromatics like ginger, fruit—ranging from pomegranate to passion fruit and the trending superfood, chia seeds. It has a unique sweet-sour taste that some liken to a great beer. Oh yeah! 

Tips for Kombucha Consumption

• Make sure your kombucha is raw. Pasteurized kombucha is high in sugar and has very few of the health benefits compared to its raw counterpart because the good bacteria has been destroyed.
• As it is often made from fermented black tea, most kombucha has a bit of caffeine and a trace amount of alcohol.
• You can find Kombuchu at local stores or delivered to your front door from Fresh Direct. 
• You might even consider making your own!

Have you tried kombucha? What’s your favorite flavor? Let me know @BushwickNutrition 

Written by Debi Zvi, RD, CDN and Alanna Cabrero, MS, RD, CDN

Edited by Tamara Cabrero & NYHRC Team

Originally posted on NYHRC Tumblr