Let's Talk About Fermentation (2024)

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Nutritional Science

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By Gracia Dala, Nutrition Student at the University of Texas at Austin

What is fermentation?

You might have noticed in recent years that kefir, kombucha, and kimchi have gained popularity, these products all share one distinct quality (no, it's not that they all start with the letter "k"). These three products have all gone through fermentation.

Fermentation is a process done by microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast, in an anaerobic environment in which they break down a sugar. This results in carbon dioxide (what gives many fermented products their fizziness) and either alcohol and/or an acid.

There's three types of fermentation:

  • Alcoholic fermentation-when a sugar is converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide. This is how beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks are made.
  • Acetic acid fermentation-follows alcoholic fermentation and results in acetic acid and carbon dioxide. This is how vinegars are made.
  • Lactic acid fermentation-a bacteria converts a sugar into lactic acid. This is how kimchi and yogurt are made.

Fermentation has many functions such as adding new flavors and textures to food, extending the shelf life of foods, making some nutrients more easily absorbed by the body, and providing an environment for probiotics to grow and reproduce. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help grow and maintain your gut microbiome, the bacteria in your large intestine that affect many aspects of your health.

Why should you try to add some of these products to your diet?

Though there is no recommended intake of probiotics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) states that eating foods with probiotics can be health promoting.* It is worth mentioning that not all fermented foods contain live probiotics. A general guideline is if the food has been exposed to high temperatures or if bacteria has been filtered after fermentation (like bread or beer), then it probably does not contain probiotics. The good news is, you still have plenty of fermented, probiotic-containing foods to choose from such as:

  • Miso
  • Tempeh
  • Yogurt with live cultures
  • Vegetables that were pickled in a salt and water solution (you can check the ingredient list on the label, typically if it has vinegar it was not fermented)
  • Tepache
  • Natto
  • Traditional Buttermilk (produced from churning butter)

…and many more!

How can you add some fermented foods to your diet?

If you are not used to eating many fermented foods, a good way to introduce them to your diet is by adding them to dishes you already eat regularly, like eating your breakfast cereal with yogurt instead of milk, adding pickled vegetables to your salads, or using kefir for your smoothies.

Since fermented foods are becoming more popular, you can find most of these at regular supermarkets, however, you can also make your own fermented foods and customize them to your taste. I had the chance to do this as a kitchen assistant at Susie's Kitchen this summer during our Fermentation Revival class. In this lesson, the instructors showed students how to add fermented foods to classics like BLTs and chocolate smoothies as well as how to brew your own kombucha and pickle your vegetables.

If you would like to learn more about fermentation here are some resources:

Author Information: Gracia Dalas a senior nutrition student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at UT Austin and is on track to complete her supervised nutrition practice. This past summer, Gracia assisted in implementation of the inaugural Susie's Kitchen Culinary Nutrition Classes in the summer of 2018 at the University of Texas.

Do you want to learn the microbiology and nutritional science behind your microbiome and medicinal foods? Consider learning more about Department of Nutritional Sciences' Online Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Let's Talk About Fermentation (2024)

FAQs

Let's Talk About Fermentation? ›

Fermentation is a process done by microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast, in an anaerobic environment in which they break down a sugar. This results in carbon dioxide (what gives many fermented products their fizziness) and either alcohol and/or an acid.

How do you explain fermentation? ›

Fermentation is a metabolic process in which an organism converts a carbohydrate, such as starch or a sugar, into an alcohol or an acid. For example, yeast performs fermentation to obtain energy by converting sugar into alcohol. Bacteria perform fermentation, converting carbohydrates into lactic acid.

What are some cool facts about fermentation? ›

Fermentation not only gives products a unique sensory signature but can also enhance their nutritional value and digestibility in several ways. The fermentation process produces vitamins, antioxidants, and molecules that can lower blood pressure and inflammation.

What happens if you eat too much fermented food? ›

Due to the high probiotic content of fermented foods, the most common side effect is an initial and temporary increase in gas and bloating ( 32 ). These symptoms may be worse after consuming fiber-rich fermented foods, such as kimchi and sauerkraut.

What is the basic concept of fermentation? ›

Fermentation is an enzyme catalysed, metabolic process whereby organisms convert starch or sugar to alcohol or an acid anaerobically releasing energy.

What is fermentation in very short answer? ›

Fermentation is the process in which a substance breaks down into a simpler substance . Fermentation refers to the metabolic process by which organic molecules ( mainly carbohydrates, such as starch or a sugar) are converted into acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen or any electron transport chain.

What are some fermented foods to eat? ›

Here are nine of the best fermented foods to include in your diet.
  • Kefir. Kefir is a fermented milk drink believed to have originated in the Caucasus region thousands of years ago. ...
  • Kimchi. ...
  • Sauerkraut. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Miso. ...
  • Some cheeses. ...
  • Sourdough bread. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar.
Mar 18, 2024

How healthy is fermentation? ›

Most fermented foods contribute bacteria that have a potential probiotic effect. This means that these bacteria may help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut, support digestive health and alleviate any digestive issues.

What are 3 disadvantages of fermentation? ›

  • Less amount of energy is produced.
  • High amount of energy is lost as alcohol and lactate.
  • Some end product of Fermentation are toxic, eg ethanol is toxic to plants.
  • Accumulation of lactate in blood and tissues results to muscle fatigue.
Jun 6, 2016

What does fermentation make a lot of? ›

The products are of many types: alcohol, glycerol, and carbon dioxide from yeast fermentation of various sugars; butyl alcohol, acetone, lactic acid, monosodium glutamate, and acetic acid from various bacteria; and citric acid, gluconic acid, and small amounts of antibiotics, vitamin B12, and riboflavin (vitamin B2) ...

Who Cannot eat fermented foods? ›

People Who Shouldn't Eat Fermented Foods
  • People with Histamine Intolerance. ...
  • People with Compromised Immune Systems. ...
  • Children and Pregnant Women. ...
  • People with Digestive Disorders. ...
  • People on a Strict Sodium-Restricted Diet. ...
  • Gas and Bloating. ...
  • Diarrhea. ...
  • Allergic Reactions.
Mar 15, 2023

What 3 foods are bad for your gut? ›

13 Foods to Avoid in a Gut Health Diet
  • Sugar. Refined white sugar may have a particularly bad reputation, but it turns out that sugar in any of its forms is potentially harmful to your gut health. ...
  • Processed Foods. ...
  • Soy. ...
  • Dairy. ...
  • Red Meat. ...
  • Gluten. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Feb 20, 2019

Who should not eat sauerkraut? ›

If you're pregnant or immunocompromised, you should avoid eating unpasteurized sauerkraut. If you take MAOIs, have blood pressure concerns, or have food intolerances or allergies, speak to your doctor before eating sauerkraut. Otherwise, sauerkraut is likely to be a nutritious and healthy addition to your diet.

In which organ does fermentation begin to occur? ›

Fermentation occurs in the body's muscle tissues. Muscle tissues are stressed as a result of exercise or vigorous activity and use more energy to accomplish the same task. Therefore, fermentation occurs in muscle tissue to meet energy requirements and prevent stress. The body's muscular tissues undergo fermentation.

What is fermentation in layman's terms? ›

Fermentation is the process in which a substance breaks down into a simpler substance. Microorganisms like yeast and bacteria usually play a role in the fermentation process, creating beer, wine, bread, kimchi, yogurt and other foods.

Are pickles fermented? ›

Quick pickles, the most common type of pickle found in grocery stores, are not fermented because they use an acid, such as vinegar, in their pickling brine. However, Lacto-fermented pickles are fermented because they follow the lactic acid fermentation method, which only uses water and salt in its brine.

How do you explain fermentation to a child? ›

A chemical change in animal and vegetable matter brought about by microscopic yeasts, bacteria, and molds is called fermentation. Examples of fermentation are the souring of milk, the rising of bread dough, and the conversion of sugars and starches to alcohol.

What is a fermentation example? ›

A well-known example of the fermentation process in the food industry is the production of fermented food and beverage, such as yogurt, wine, beer, bread, tempeh, and kimchi.

What makes something fermented? ›

Fermented foods are defined as foods or beverages produced through controlled microbial growth, and the conversion of food components through enzymatic action.

What are the 4 phases of fermentation? ›

Fermentation is usually divided into four phases: lag phase, active phase, stationary phase, and conditioning phase. Fermentation is the process by which yeast produces all the alcohol, aroma, and flavor compounds found in beer.

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