Can Eating Fermented Foods Help In Weight Loss?

While product advertising may tell you differently, there is no magic food or drink that will solve all your weight-loss difficulties. Losing weight is simply a matter of burning more calories than you take in. However, consuming fermented foods may suppress hunger and support weight loss by improving digestion and preventing spikes in blood sugar. There is no conclusive clinical evidence to support eating fermented foods to help with weight loss.

Nourishment

According to nutritionist Donna Gates, author of "The Body Ecology Diet," the bacteria in fermented foods may help your body digest the other foods you eat, making the nutrients in those foods available to your body. When your body extracts more nourishment from the food you eat, you may feel more satisfied with fewer calories and be able to comfortably eat less and therefore lose weight.

How It Works

According to Gates, when you regularly consume small amounts of fermented foods, your gut --- intestinal lining --- becomes populated with these microscopic organisms. While the idea of having tiny beings living in your intestines may sound scary, the bacteria in fermented foods may be beneficial. When partially digested food goes into your intestinal tract the microbes get to work on breaking it down further and excrete a substance with smaller particles that your blood can more easily absorb and carry to the rest of your body.

Blood Sugar

According to the website Mendosa.com, fermented foods may also prevent spikes in blood sugar levels. Dips in blood sugar typically follow spikes and result in fatigue and hunger that may lead to overeating. By consuming a little fermented food with your meal, you may prevent high blood sugar levels and subsequent increases in hunger. There is no conclusive clinical evidence to support the use of fermented foods to prevent high blood sugar, however.

Foods to Choose

Fermented foods that may contain the bacteria needed to help you lose weight include natural unpasteurized sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt and miso. Too much of any fermented food may actually cause gas and bloating. So consume them in moderation. You may also enjoy residual health benefits, as fermented foods could also support treatment of colds, flus, yeast infections, irritable bowel syndrome or intestinal infections. There is no conclusive clinical evidence to support eating fermented foods for any health condition.