Fermented foods and beverages, such as sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha, were a regular part of our ancestors’ diets for thousands of years. Originally a method of preserving produce from harvest time through the cold days of winter; fermentation involves adding a bacterial or yeast starter to a food. These organisms convert starches and sugars to alcohol or acids, lengthening the food’s shelf life and producing the unique and tangy flavours we associate with fermented foods. Recently, these foods have seen a resurgence in popularity, not for their shelf lives but for their claimed digestive health benefits. As probiotics have also risen in popularity for similar reasons, let us explore how fermented foods stack up against a high quality probiotic.

It All Begins In The Gut

Our interest in strategies to improve digestive health has been fuelled by an expanding body of research indicating that poor gut health negatively affects many other body systems. Specifically, imbalances in the microbiome, the ecosystem of approximately 38 trillion bacteria and other organisms living in your digestive tract, have been connected not only to gut disorders but to mood, immune, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, cancer and even cardiovascular disease.

Research shows that taking live beneficial bacteria, such as probiotics, can improve microbiome health, reducing the symptoms of many health conditions, improving general health and lowering the risk of diseases such as those mentioned above. In light of this, probiotic supplements and fermented foods, both sources of potentially beneficial bacteria, have been put forward as effective options for improving microbiome health. Consequently, there is a misconception that they are interchangeable; however, there are fundamental differences between them.

The Pros of Probiotics

Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. Research has shown that specific types (strains) of probiotics, at defined doses, can help manage particular health conditions or symptoms, such as hayfever or bloating.

To understand this further, let us use irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a painful digestive disorder, as an example. Research indicates that the specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v, can relieve the bloating, intestinal pain and inflammation of medically diagnosed IBS. This benefit occurs when the probiotic is taken at a dose of 20 billion colony-forming units (CFU), which is a way of expressing the amount of live bacteria contained per probiotic capsule or dose of powder.

Scientists give probiotic bacteria three names we can use to identify them and connect them to their health benefits: genus (e.g. Lactobacillus), species (e.g. plantarum), and strain (e.g. 299v). To get the health benefits associated with that strain, all three names must match the probiotic used in the scientific research, as well as the dose.

Luckily, you can find information on strains and doses in a probiotic supplement just by reading the label. By choosing a probiotic from a reputable brand committed to quality, you can feel confident that you will receive:

• A guaranteed strain of bacteria effective for your health condition
• A correct quantity of live bacteria necessary for the benefit you require
• Bacteria that are alive at the label dosage until the expiry date

So, if you are looking to improve a particular health condition, choose a strain-specific probiotic for best results. What’s the easiest way to find the right probiotic for your condition? See a Natural Healthcare Practitioner.

Fermented Foods Vs Probiotics

Although fermented foods contain live bacteria, the microbes responsible for fermentation do not confer the same health benefits as a probiotic supplement. In fact, an expert panel of scientists concluded that fermented foods have unidentified microbial content, meaning there is no guarantee of what bacterial strains or doses will be present in them. For this reason, they are fundamentally different from probiotics.

That being said, many people experience non-specific digestive health benefits from including fermented foods in their diet, which could be related to the bacteria present, however, more research is needed to confirm this. Since fermentation breaks ingredients down into simpler parts, these foods are generally easier to digest, and fermentation also increases the nutritional value of the food. If you are healthy and do not require specific health benefits, fermented foods may be appropriate for you.

Be aware that, while fermenting at home can be fun, it is not a risk-free process. Exposure to oxygen, for example, can allow mould, yeast and less beneficial bacteria to grow. High-quality probiotics, on the other hand, are produced under strict hygienic conditions that minimise the risk of introducing ‘bad’ microorganisms into your gut. If your digestive system is sensitive, you may be better off taking a probiotic.

Choose What’s Right For You

Fermented foods are a tasty addition to the diet and do appear to provide some non-specific digestive benefits to relatively healthy people, on the proviso that they are prepared correctly. However, for support with specific health conditions, it is important to choose a specific probiotic strain, at the right dose, for your condition.

The War Against Toxins

The battle between antioxidants and toxins is much like a war between good and evil. Toxins create molecules known as free radicals, which cause damage to our cells: a process known as oxidative stress. Conversely, antioxidants are substances that can neutralise free radicals, thereby protecting our cells and tissues from damage.

Our body also neutralises and eliminates toxic substances via detoxification, with the liver primarily responsible for eliminating the toxins we are exposed to. Whilst the liver is an efficient organ, it can benefit greatly from detoxification support to prevent it from becoming overburdened by constant toxin exposure. This is where sulforaphane plays a key role, enhancing the body’s detoxification processes and reducing damage caused by free radical exposure.

Sulforaphane Saves the Day

Sulforaphane is an ingredient made by the body from nutrients found within cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and kale. Sulforaphane increases antioxidant protection by stimulating the antioxidant defence system within the body that protects against the effects of oxidative stress.

Additionally, sulforaphane enhances detoxification activity in the body by inducing enzymes involved in metabolism of harmful toxins by the liver, promoting their elimination.

The Elusive Hero

Providing your body with sulforaphane is not as simple as adding a few extra spoonfuls of broccoli to your dinner plate; you need to provide your body with the right ingredients to make it. The main ingredient is glucoraphanin, found primarily in broccoli seeds, however you also need myrosinase, found in high concentration in broccoli sprouts, to ‘activate’ it (Figure 1).

Although broccoli does contain both glucoraphanin and myrosinase, you would need to consume almost two cups of raw broccoli each day to attain enough for a beneficial amount of sulforaphane. For those who prefer cooked broccoli, the heating process destroys myrosinase, so while cooked broccoli can give you glucoraphanin, there is not enough myrosinase to convert it into sulforaphane in the body.

Additionally, vitamin C is needed to turn on myrosinase, making it a vital ingredient for sulforaphane production. Therefore, whilst this hero ingredient is formidable in the face of its toxin foe, its strength can remain elusive given the wrong circumstances. A carefully crafted supplement derived from seed and sprout, containing glucoraphanin, myrosinase and vitamin C, provides the building blocks for sulforaphane production, ensuring your antioxidant superhero steps out of the shadows and shines!

Sulforaphane…More Like Sulfora-gain

If you suffer from fatigue, stubborn weight gain, digestive disturbances or hormonal conditions, you may need detoxification and antioxidant support from the superhero sulforaphane. To give your body the best chance of making enough, look for a supplement derived from broccoli seed and broccoli sprout with added vitamin C. Contact your local Natural Healthcare Practitioner to help find the right supplement for your needs.

Always On Guard

As we go about our daily lives, we are exposed to an abundance of foreign substances, and it is our immune system’s job to detect which of these are harmful and mount an appropriate immune response. When you experience hay fever symptoms however, your immune system has mounted an inappropriate response to a harmless substance (e.g. pollen) and has become hyper-reactive. This causes specialised immune cells, known as mast cells, to migrate to your nose and throat, where they release histamine. This chemical triggers an explosion of inflammation, which forces foreign particles out of your body. It is the swelling and irritation that inflammation causes which leads to the miserable symptoms of hay fever.

Antihistamines – Paper Over the Cracks

By blocking the effects of histamine, antihistamines reduce or suppress hay fever symptoms; however, they do not address the underlying hyper-reactive immune response that causes histamine release in the first place. This is why you only experience temporary relief of your symptoms, which return once you stop taking the medication. Alternatively, an approach that builds immune tolerance, which is the ability of the immune system to resist reacting to harmless substances, can treat the underlying cause of hay fever.

Fix the Wall

There are two key ways to help improve immune tolerance. The first is to boost your body’s production of specific immune cells known as T regulatory (Treg) cells. Put simply, the more Treg cells you have, the more balanced your immune system is, and the less likely you are to react to harmless substances.

The second way is to support the health of your gut and its microbiota (the 38 trillion microorganisms that live in your intestines), as there is a strong connection between the microbiome and immune reactivity. If there is an imbalance of good and bad microorganisms in your gut, your immune system can become hyper-reactive and as a result less tolerant to harmless substances.  A healthy microbiome also requires a healthy gut lining (and vice versa!). If the lining of the gut is inflamed or damaged, perhaps due to a poor diet or digestive illness, this can also disrupt your microbiome, increasing immune reactivity and allergic symptoms.

Case Study: Rebuilding Tolerance to Manage Allergy

The Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program, which can be provided by your Natural Healthcare Practitioner, addresses both immune reactivity and gut health. This program uses herbs and nutrients, specific dietary changes, and lifestyle recommendations to rebalance your microbiome, promote the health of the gut lining, and build immune tolerance – lowering your likelihood of experiencing hay fever.

Let’s look at a specific case as an example.

Kate, a 25-year-old female who suffered from hay fever, experienced significant benefit from following the Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program. She suffered from sneezing, watery eyes and an itchy throat when she was exposed to pollens. She also experienced daily headaches triggered by perfume and strong smells.

As part of the program, Kate was given the following:

• An immune-building/gut repair formula including medicinal mushrooms Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) and Lentinula edodes (shiitake), and herbs Scutellaria baicalensis (baical skullcap) and Perilla frutescens (perilla).
• An allergy symptom relief formula including nutrients quercetin and bromelain, and a herbal complex, which work together to reduce histamine release.
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) and Lactobacillus paracasei (LP-33®), two probiotic strains that help regulate a hyper-reactive immune response and improve the health of the microbiome.
• High strength, purified fish oil to reduce inflammation and support healthy immune function.
• A custom elimination diet to identify any food triggers.

After 10 weeks following the program, Kate had experienced a significant reduction in her sneezing, watery eyes and headaches, with the added bonus of feeling less anxious (see Figure 1 below).

A Holistic Approach for Long-Term Gain

The symptoms of hay fever can not only be frustrating but also debilitating. Whilst antihistamines may provide a quick fix, increasing your immune tolerance is the key to resolving your symptoms in the long term. By improving gut and immune function, the Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program can help address the cause of hay fever symptoms, allowing you to get the most out of life. For a tailored solution and more information about the Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program, speak to your Healthcare Practitioner today.