How to Choose the Best Sauerkraut on Shelves (& What to Avoid)

Choose Best Sauerkraut For You

Sauerkraut—fermented cabbage—is like the “Windex” of fermented foods, packed with gut loving real-food lactic acid bacteria that is more absorbable and digestible than lactic acid probiotic supplements (90% of probiotics on shelves). I will give you tips on how to choose best sauerkraut and what to avoid.

Fermentation is known as one of the oldest forms of food preservation in the world that actually de-oxygenates food, and allows beneficial bacteria to form (that your body can absorb and digest). From preserved fruits and picked veggies, to kombucha, kefir, grass-fed yogurt, kvass and non-processed tofu, tempeh, nato and miso, consumption of fermented foods can aid in the introduction of healthy gut bacteria to your micro biome. 

While most people used to make their own fermented foods—like sauerkraut—at home, today, you can buy them at a farmer’s market or store too. However, be warned: Like probiotic supplements, not all fermented foods on shelves are equal.

If buying from a store, choose best sauerkraut with these 3 things:

1. Refrigerated Varieties.

The right stuff is sold in the fridge.

2. Alive.

Most sauerkraut found in a grocery store is pasteurized and then canned. Pasteurization (while an important process for the preservation of many foods), does more harm than good to sauerkraut. The process of lacto-fermentaion of cabbage, creates live lactobacillus bacteria and other benecial microbes, which die when sauerkraut is heated. Look for words like “raw,” perishable, unpasteurized, “naturally occurring Lactobacilli,” “naturally fermented” and “keep refrigerated” on the label (The RIGHT STUFF is NOT cooked, canned, pasteurized or heated in any way).

3. Contains ONLY Cabbage & Salt.

Sauerkraut is made with just cabbage and salt and, possibly some other vegetables – like carrots, ginger, garlic and cumin seeds, or a starter culture – for flavor. Choose best sauerkraut and look at the label. You should NOT see: Vinegar, Sodium Benzoate or Sugar on the label.

My fave brands? Farmhouse Cultures Classic Caraway Kraut and Wildbrine. 

The post How to Choose the Best Sauerkraut on Shelves (& What to Avoid) appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

Source/Repost=>
https://drlauryn.com/gut-health/how-to-choose-best-sauerkraut-on-shelves/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/