Everybody’s talking about how eating fermented foods is the best for optimizing gut health, but are you someone that is experiencing excess gas, bloating, and/or irritable bowel patterns? Fermenting your gut may be the LAST thing you want to do!
Yes, it’s true eating fermented foods are wonderful for keeping your good bacterial populations (probiotics) in the gut happy and prolific. However, fermented foods also keep the bad bacteria and/or yeast plentiful and content as well. That’s why I recommend avoiding fermented foods until AFTER you have restored a healthy balance in your gut first.
If you are someone that feels as if your belly has a balloon in it by the end of the day, you may be experiencing yeast overgrowth or bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines (SIBO). Stool microbiology testing or a breathe testing can determine if there is an overgrowth of these “bad” microorganisms. Eating fermented foods in these scenarios may actually cause more harm than good by perpetuating the gut infections!
The good news is that once these infections are cleared, many patients can introduce fermented foods back into their diet without exacerbating any gut symptoms. This is when fermented foods become your friend again, helping maintain optimal levels of good gut bugs and minimizing any future candida overgrowth or SIBO.
About the author
Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients to your body it has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms.
Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center For Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. Her personal website is www.doctorfey.com. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.