While many fermented foods have incredible benefits, from increasing digestion, nutrient assimilation, and gut rebuilding, not all fermented foods are good for you. Those without a probiotic kick may be worth a kick to the curb.
These non-probiotic ferments are often pure deliciousness but they can have harmful side effects.
Now, of course, I’m a fan of ferments. Incorporating certain kinds of fermented foods is a big part of what I recommend as one small, yet important step for people looking to rebuild their gut.
That said, I want to make sure you are aware that just because something’s fermented, doesn’t mean it has beneficial probiotics.
Look, I’ve definitely been a fan of shamelessly enjoying chocolates and cheese. So please know that what I’m sharing is not my attempt at a guilt trip. It’s just to point out that not all ferments provide probiotic advantages and that all ferments—yes, even the super healthy ones—should be consumed in appropriate quantities.
Ferments Without Probiotic Power
Some common ferments without probiotics follow. If you see any of your favorites on this list, be sure to check out the pros and cons and decide for yourself if they should stay or go.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is an obvious example of a ferment that isn’t exactly “good” for you. But before you beer fanatics throw up a middle finger, know that even some alcoholic beverages can have health advantages! We all know that too much alcohol can severely harm the liver, not to mention cause intense remorse and embarrassment if you get drunk….
Many people converted to drinking red wine when they heard about the many health benefits.
The American Gut Project claims that:
“Alcohol consumption also affects microbiome diversity. Those who had at least one drink per week had a more diverse microbiome than those who abstained.”
The science behind alcohol fermentation
Fermentation is the conversion of sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide, with the implementation of bacteria—in the case of alcohol, yeast. Yeasts are single cell fungi that are necessary in producing ethanol. In a normal fermentation cycle, yeasts use oxygen at the beginning and then continue to thrive once the oxygen no longer remains. It’s during this anaerobic (without oxygen) period that ethanol is produced.
As with most yeast ferments, if Candida is an issue, I don’t recommend it. The byproducts in a yeast ferment support the growth of yeast – feeding the bioterrain for yeasts to grow – not ideal. Alcohol is essential straight ‘sugar’ that feeds yeasts in the body. In fact, when I was studying herbal medicine in school, my mentor told me that most alcoholics are actually consumed by a yeast overgrowth and can greatly reduce alcohol consumption when they address Candida first.
So there you have it. Perhaps the foods and drinks that are generally considered “bad” can in some ways be “good.” This is why I hesitate to call foods “good” or “bad” and instead look at food on a person by person basis.
CHEESE
Another example of a questionable-probiotic ferment is cheese. (And of course, cheese goes well with that glass of red wine.) But as we know, dairy consumption can also cause issues. High in fat and difficult-to-digest proteins, too much cheese (or other dairy products) can result in chronic inflammation, digestive issues, and a wide array of other undesirable side effects including weight gain.
I call cheese a ‘questionable-probiotic ferment’ because there are at least a thousand different kinds of cheese and depending on whether it is pasteurized, raw, or aged will determine how many kinds of probiotics are in it (or not).
However, even without probiotics, the protein in cheese (if you can digest it) naturally helps to curb hunger. These proteins help break down the absorption of carbohydrates, therefore helping balance blood-sugar levels and boost your mood!
Other nutrients in cheese include zinc and biotin, both helping aid tissue repair, protecting skin, and strengthening nails and hair.
The science behind cheese fermentation
A starter culture gets the cheese ferment going. Milk must be 90 degrees for 30 minutes in order to ripen. At this time, the bacteria grows and fermentation begins, lowering pH levels and developing the mature cheese flavor. You certainly don’t want to (ok, I do) eat an entire block of cheese, but these dairy products do indeed possess miscellaneous nutrients, mainly proteins and calcium.
COFFEE
For you coffee addicts, guess what? Coffee is usually fermented. A common method of processing raw coffee involves washing and separating the skin from beans before fermenting the beans in cement tanks. Fermentation is what causes this outer layer to break down and disappear, essentially de-pulping the seed and leaving behind the coffee bean. After fermentation takes place, the beans are then rinsed with water and the remaining mucilage is then dried.
We are sometimes in denial about the health concerns related to coffee. But in the back of our minds, even regular drinkers are aware that coffee isn’t always the healthiest choice.
That said, while coffee can lead to cardiovascular issues and a myriad of anxiety-related problems, it does have its benefits. Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants. It can protect against diabetes, aids the liver, and combats alcoholic cirrhosis.
Coffee also prevents gallstones and kidney stones. It can prevent and revive any retinal damage, and can potentially lessen your chances of certain cancers and Alzheimer's. It also helps mental focus and productivity, which is the main reason most people drink it.
OTHER FERMENTS
Various teas, chocolates, and vinegar fall into this group. While all of these non-probiotic ferments have pros and cons, so do the probiotic-rich foods.
Even healthy ferments can have negative side effects if consumed too often in too great a quantity. For example, take kombucha. It possesses a myriad of benefits and is high in vitamins and enzymes that help detoxify the body. But, it can also contribute to Candida issues, dysbiosis, heartburn, and inflammation if drank too much or too frequently. Click here to read more on the pros and cons of kombucha.
The important thing to remember for these non-probiotic containing ferments is that they can still bolster the bioterrain. They can make the gut a happy place for probiotics to live, but they aren’t adding bacteria into the digestive system.
Should All Ferments Be A Dietary Staple For You?
The main thing to keep in mind, even with fermented foods that do have probiotics, is that they work best when implemented into your diet, not when they become your diet. Having even one small servings of fermented food as a side item helps immensely. That’s when they work their magic best to help you digest your meals more fully!
Whether it's a probiotic-rich food like yogurt or sauerkraut, or red wine without the good gut buts, listen to your body first. Make sure you’re eating what your body is asking for and not overriding your physical needs to eat “healthy” foods. I teach more about how to listen to your gut in Gut Rebuilding where you clean it up and rebuild it from scratch.
To check out my favorite 11 probiotic-rich ferments, read here.
