Natural Cook Studio of Bend

Ever wonder why Oktoberfest isn’t held in October? Oktoberfest in held in September because it’s modeled after the original Oktoberfest in Munich,Germany, the third full weekend in September.  Munich chose September to coincide with the marriage of Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.  Funny how something like this catches on, but today it is the second most celebrated festival in the world.  There are two very important items needed to celebrate this festival, beer and sauerkraut.  I’m going to focus on the food…sauerkraut instead of beer.

We all know that getting your digestive tract working properly is necessary for health. Many sources say raw fermented foods are beneficial to the digestive system by increasing the healthy flora in the intestinal tract or creating the type of environment for them to flourish. Eating sauerkraut is a great way to protect the balance of bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. Sauerkraut is one of the few foods that contain the bacterium Lactobacilli plantarum. Lactobacilli is a very dominant strain of healthful bacteria which helps your digestive system in the following ways:

Boost the immune system by increasing antibodies that fight infectious disease.
Help inhibit pathogenic organisms including E.coli, salmonella and unhealthy overgrowth of candida (yeast).
Creates antioxidants that scavenge free radicals which are a cancer precursors.
Transforms hard-to-digest lactose from milk to the more easily digested lactic acid.
It neutralizes the anti nutrients found in many foods including the phytic acid found in all grains.
Sauerkraut and its juice is said to cures an upset stomach as well as stomach ulcers and be a remedies for constipation. Fermentation actually increases the nutrient values in cabbage, especially vitamin C. Fermented foods are also said to facilitate the breakdown and assimilation of proteins. They have a soothing effect on the nervous system. The benefits of sauerkraut and sauerkraut juice have been recognized for millenia. In some families of southern Germany, the children are fed raw sauerkraut twice weekly to support their intestines. Today it is thought that these benefits may relate to a high proportion of lactic acid in sauerkraut and sauerkraut juice that naturally supports the digestive processes, maintain intestinal flora, decrease joint pain, and increase the feeling of well-being.
Caution: Many brands of sauerkraut contain nitrites and amines, if not properly manufactured. These compounds have been known to cause stomach cancer and migraines.  If you don’t have a good source for home made I recommend the brand Bubbies.  The ingredient label on this product reads: Cabbage Artesian well water and salt.

In Health,

Lisa