Lesson 8: “Best Ever” Sauerkraut

http://vimeo.com/84253550

View Video in Theater Mode
(computers only)

Do you like sauerkraut? We find from our students that the ones that don’t like it have only eaten store bought.

Homemade sauerkraut is much better than any store-bought version. Store bought sauerkraut is sold in cans or jars that have usually been cooked and pasteurized. So these are "dead" foods.

Note: There are a couple of brands of sauerkraut that use a "flash" heating method of pasteurization. Don’t kid yourself… heat is heat and it does affect the quality and taste. Your homemade sauerkraut will always be more superior in quality and taste than any store bought version.

In Lesson 3: Science and Health, we talked about how fermenting vegetables increases their digestibility along with enzyme and vitamin levels being boosted. Yep… this this is happening in your homemade sauerkraut too. In fact lacto-fermented sauerkraut has some great traits worth mentioning.

Lacto-fermented Sauerkraut:

Is rich in probiotic bacteria.
Extremely high in vitamins C, B and K.
Calcium and magnesium are also high.
Is a very good source of dietary fiber, folate, iron, potassium, copper and manganese.

In Europe sauerkraut has been used for centuries to treat stomach ulcers and is effective in soothing the digestive tract.

Keep in mind that when you eat your lacto-femrented sauerkraut with "cooked" meats the digestibility of these foods is increased, making it easier for the body to get the nutrients it needs.