Fermented foods contain probiotics composed of beneficial bacteria. Let’s talk more about why tempeh can help with our overall gut health and how incorporating probiotics into our diet can affect more than just our digestive health!
You may be familiar with this vegetarian meat-like alternative, but did you know that this fermented soy patty contains necessary pre and probiotics to maintain gut health? The fermentation process of tempeh involves bacteria and yeast that break down sugars. This process also helps to break down phytic acids. The presence of phytic acids may prevent the absorption of zinc, iron, calcium, and other minerals by your body. Breaking down phytic acid through the fermentation process helps to improve digestion and makes this protein dense food easier to digest and absorb.
What are Probiotics Good for?
It feels like fermented foods and probiotics are becoming increasingly more and more popular. Many of the foods that we purchase today have the benefits of probiotics listed on their labels. We now know that the health of our gut is critical to our overall health, and an unhealthy gut can lead to more health issues than just digestive discomfort.
The gut is home to a diverse range of microbes that affect almost every aspect of human biology through interactions and cell communications. Our gut microbiota helps to digest food, produce chemicals that improve the health of our cells, regulate our immune system, and even influence brain health. In order for us to have healthy gut diversity we need to have the right microorganisms. This is where our diet plays a huge role!
Eating food that is rich in prebiotics and probiotics can aid in the health of our microbiota, boosting our immunity AND improving our digestion. Foods like tempeh contain beneficial bacteria that can strengthen our system and help our body fight against disease causing bacteria that wreak havoc on our system. The presence of probiotics in the gut has even been said to alleviate symptoms of depression. This is in connection with the fact that microbes help to produce serotonin in the gut. 90% of our serotonin is actually made in the digestive system! Serotonin plays an important role in mood regulation, sleep, and learning. The health of our gut and digestive systems can positively affect so much of our lives.
This menu item of the week is one not to be missed. In addition to the beneficial microorganisms we have learned that tempeh contains, it is also a complete protein. This means that it contains all nine essential amino acids as well as macro and microminerals. It also contains twice the amount of protein in comparison to tofu!
Mineral Benefits of Tempeh
Manganese (micromineral) - Needed for connective tissue and bone development in the skin, skeleton, small bones of the ears, used during bone remodeling i.e. fractures, important for healthy pancreatic function, and is used in the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids.
Phosphorus (macromineral) - Structural component of teeth and bones, an essential part of ATP (our energy source),and an important component of structural proteins.
Calcium (macromineral) - Another major part of bone and teeth structure, calcium ions add hardness to our bone matrix, facilitates movement of nutrients across cell membranes, and initiates the clotting process.