Maybe this is your first time trying to create a jar of saurkraute. Or do you just feel extra creative to try that new sourdough recipe? What do your favorite beer, kombucha, and yogurt have in common? They are all products of fermentation. Fermentation has been practiced for centuries to preserve food and extend its shelf life. But also to create the best wines, beers, and ciders that we all love.

Let’s keep it short and sweet. Fermentation is a metabolic process where microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, or mold with their activity create a change in food and beverage. Usually, it is to increase the flavor, extend the shelf life or just make things better than they were before. For your next step in the right way check Tips on Starting With Fermentation.

What do you need to start fermenting?

It will all depend on what you want to ferment. Your necessary tools will be different for fermenting a jar of pickles or making a bottle of kombucha. First, check if this is really something you want to do. So keep reading.

3 Different types of fermentation

• Lactic acid is good for fermenting saurkraut, yogurt, kimchi, and sourdough.
• Ethanol/alcohol fermentation using a special type of yeast you can brew beer, ciders, or make homemade wine.
• Acetic acid fermentation is where starches and sugars from grains and fruit ferment into sour-tasting food such as apple cider vinegar, wine vinegar, and kombucha.

What are the main advantages of fermentation?

We are not going to go into all specific details and why you should be consuming more fermented food products. People have been consuming fermented food and beverage for thousands of years and it has marked our civilization throughout history. The main benefits to your body would be:

• It will aid with improving your immune system. Making you stronger and easier to deal with infections. Pathogens just can’t handle the acidic environment that fermentation creates.
• It can neutralize certain anti-nutrients that can cause mineral deficiencies in your body.
• Consuming fermented products can increase the number of vitamins and minerals in your body. Not to mention all the benefits of probiotics and other healthy ingredients you will be adding to your health.

Maybe you haven’t paid attention to how many fermented products you have been consuming on daily basis. But this is certainly something you should consider shortly. People have benefited from consuming fermented food and drinks in so many different ways. It can improve your health, make you stronger and help you with other problems that you may have. So next time if you are packing your lunch or just going grocery shopping take a minute and pick up that yogurt or sourdough bread.