Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lacto-fermentation. This is were natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food creating lactic acid. This process preserves the food, and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics. Fermented foods have been shown to preserve nutrients in food and break the food down to a more digestible form. Setting aside the health benefits, lacto-fermentation allows you to store these foods for longer periods of time without losing the nutrients. Don’t let this process intimate you… a new world of gut flora awaits you! :)