Nutrition expert Federica Amati has revealed a superfood that is taking the health world by storm for its potential to help fight obesity, diabetes and reduce cravings. The author of the book 'Every Body Needs to Know This' and lead nutritionist at Zoe - a company co-founded by renowned scientist Tim Spector - has been raving about the food on her Instagram account.
She called the food "amazing" for strengthening gut health, which in turn can significantly slow inflammation associated with diseases like dementia, arthritis and diabetes. On Instagram, Amati tells:
"Kimchi is one of those amazing fermented foods that doesn't just add flavour, spice and texture to your dishes. They are full of probiotic strains of bacteria that have turned the cabbage, chillies and other wonderful ingredients inside kimchi into this delicious spicy awesomeness."
"Adding a little kimchi to your meals every day can really help support your gut microbiome in a way that suppresses and reduces unnecessary inflammation. What's really wonderful about kimchi?
There are actually quite a few randomized controlled trials that use it for things like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and starvation. And it always has a positive impact on those outcomes. It's a really good food that you can add to your diet and start adding to your salads, soups and other meals. You'd be surprised how versatile it is," the expert added.
Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish and is believed to be the secret to longevity and beauty. The dish resembles Bulgarian sauerkraut but with a lot more spices added.
Fermented foods are thought to be good for gut health, which is a key factor in overall wellbeing, according to nutrition experts such as Professor Tim Spector. He highlights the many benefits of fermented foods such as kefir, saying:
"In particular, they seem to support the immune system, which is so important in fighting allergies, infections, cancer and aging, thanks to their interaction with gut bacteria."
However, Spector warns that if you allow yourself to snack on sweetened yogurt rich in additives once a week, it won't help. Instead, you should choose high-quality products and consume them in small amounts several times a day.
"An American clinical study found that individuals who consumed four to five small servings of fermented foods daily experienced significant improvements in blood markers of inflammation and immune function within just two weeks. Therefore, if you take one or two servings daily, you are likely to reap similar benefits," Spectrum stressed. | BGNES
