Fermented Veggies...

Did you know fermented vegetables are a fantastic source of probiotics? Did you even know you can "eat" probiotics and they don't just come in a capsule? Eating your probiotics is the best and most natural way to keep the bacteria in your body balanced. 

Things like toxins, medications, and stress are key factors in the imbalance of bacteria in our guts. We need good AND bad bacteria, but too often, the bad bacteria take over and that is where all the madness happens; sickness, chronic disorders, and disease.

They call the gut our 2nd brain. Did you know 90% of our serotonin is made in our gut; not our brain?! Yes, honey! We need to keep our guts in good health in order for us to be healthy. Are you asking what in the world that means? That means our mental health starts in our gut; NOT OUR BRAIN! 

Fermented veggies are a GREAT source of probiotics; along with kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, and kombucha. They aid in getting the good bacteria back in our guts. 

Did you know??? Pickled vegetables (like pickles) that you buy in the grocery store are almost always sitting in vinegar; so they are not "fermented" at all. 

Homemade pickled veggies are super easy to make. Here is a recipe I use for all kinds of veggies.

• 1 mason jar
• 1-2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tsp peppercorns
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp fresh dill
• 1 cup of water (or so)
• 2 cups of your vegetable of choice

Cram the vegetables in the mason jar; so tight they don't come out when you turn it upside down. Now pour some spring water (no chlorine) into the jar and leave about 1/2" of room at the top. Make sure all the veggies are covered with water. 

Now pour the water into a measuring cup. You are going to want to add 1/2 tbsp of salt for every cup of water. Now add everything to your jar along with the water. 

Place in a warm/dark spot for 3-5 days. Then place in the fridge and eat 'em up within 2 weeks. 

Do not put your hand inside the jar to get out your veggies. This affects the bacteria. Put a fork in the jar to grab your veggies. 

Make sure you are eating small amounts of probiotics every day. Gut health is super important for our immune systems, endocrine systems, mental health, and overall vitality. 

Until next time...

What's on Your Fork?