Sauerkraut is a product from cabbage that has been fermented with lactid acid bacteria. People called it sauerkraut based from Germany word. Some sources say that originally people make sauerkraut using cabbage that been soaked to vinegar or sour wine. But lately, people just soaked in salt and vinegar which also have the similar taste as using vinegar or sour wine.
As we know, that lactid acid bacteria also used to make a yogurt which is why these foods called a probiotic. What is probiotic? It is an ingredients that be a beneficial to our health. It contains a microorganisms that can be healthy for our health.
Sauerkraut is one of the most easy fermented food to be made. There’s no need complex ingredients to make it. In fact, you can now purchase it on the food store. Some food company produce and distribute sauerkraut, so people doesn’t have to make by themselves. This canned sauerkraut can be found on your local food store and some brands also have a good price. For the example, you can try sauerkraut by Bubbies Sauerkraut.
Bubbies is a company that produce fermented foods such as, sauerkraut, pickles, relish and other fermented foods. Bubbies sauerkraut is one of the most popular brand for people who likes to eat sauerkraut but doesn’t know how to make it or don’t have time to make it. This product is made from fresh cabbage that been shredded and salted, after that be put in a jar and leave it for naturally fermented for a few weeks.
They claimed that their sauerkraut is fat free and gluten free. This product might be the perfect choice for some people who are in a diet program and like to eat fermented foods. According to some sources, many people from USA like to purchase this product. In fact, American one of the country that have the highest level consuming sauerkraut.
How to Made Sauerkraut
Making Sauerkraut is quite easy. You don’t need any complex or expensive ingredients. Even though now you can only buy it in the food store and there are many brands you can choose. Here are some guide to make Sauerkraut:
- Clean the cabbage under flowing water.
- Chop and shred the cabbage
- Sprinkle it with salt
- Knead the cabbage that already sprinkled by salt until they produce some liquid or water from the cabbage
- Put in a jar and close it tightly.
- Leave it for a few weeks for the fermentation process and after that, you can eat it
Nutrient Value of Bubbies Sauerkraut
Here are the nutrient value from one jar of Bubbies Sauerkraut for serving size ¼ cup (28g)  was reported as follows:
- Calories 0%
- Total fat 0 gram
- Sodium 290 mg
- Total carbohydrate 1 gram
- Dietary fiber 1 gram
- Protein 0 gram
- Vitamin C 15 mg
- Iron 1.5 mg
Health Benefits of Eating Bubbies Sauerkraut
As we know Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage. Here are some benefits of eating Sauerkraut:
- Source of vitamin
Sauerkraut is a food made from cabbage leaves that been shredded and soaked in salt or vinegar and fermented. This fermented process will make some absorb more nutrients from the cabbage so you can say that the sauerkraut is more nutritious than the original cabbage. Those nutrients are such as, vitamin C, B, and K. Sauerkraut also contains some low calories and high calcium and magnesium. Also read: Health Benefits of Vitamin E Oil for Nails
- Good for digestive health
As describe above, sauerkraut contains lactid acid bacteria that good for our digestive health. Because in the process of making sauerkraut requires fermented process, so it will contain some enzymes that will helps our metabolism system especially digestion part to process the food inside our body and absorb the nutrients better.
- Fat content
Sauerkraut is made from some ingredients that don’t contain to much fat in it. This means consuming sauerkraut can help you if you are in attempt to weight loss. As describe above, the nutrient value in Sauerkraut there is no fat at all so, it is safe for whom are in diet program. Also read: Health Benefits of Mixed Frozen Vegetables
- Prevent cancer
Cabbage is one of the vegetables that contained lots of antioxidants. As you know, antioxidants can reduce the risk of infected cancer. The antioxidants that contained in cabbage can help your body to prevent the development of cancer inside the body. Also read: Health Benefits of Papaya Leaves for Cancer
- Probiotic
Sauerkraut is called a probiotic. Which means it contains some ingredients that good for our health. Probiotic known can be used to cure or prevent some digestive disease such as, diarrhea, antibiotic resistance, constipation and even cancer. Many people doesn’t know that probiotic can also be a remedy for depression. Some researchers has been doing a research about probiotc and say it can reduce the symptoms of depression and can improve mood. Also read: Health Benefits of Blue and Purple Fruits and Vegetables
- Scurvy
This disease is caused by the lack of vitamin C. This type of disease is one of the very rare disease that can effected people. People who don’t consume enough fruit and vegetables are very easy to be effected to this disease. As we know, lots of vitamin C can be found in Sauerkraut. Also read: Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables for Elderly
Cautions of of Eating Bubbies Sauerkraut
Although consuming Sauerkraut has lots benefits to our health we still have to be aware of how much we consume it. The excessive amount of consuming Sauerkraut can cause bloating and flatulence. Sauerkraut is a fermented product which is this product will use some ingredients that if we consume it excessively will cause bloating. That ingredients for example is vinegar.
High acid content in it can cause bloating and flatulence. This means that your small intestines cannot break down some chemical which goes into our body.
Another advice you can take before eating Sauerkraut is you better make it by yourself since the making of it is quite easy. It is better than you buy the canned Sauerkraut. Why? Because some brands use some food additives that can give you no good beneficial health. Even though, there are some good canned Sauerkraut and already trusted by their customers.