Fermentation

A method of inserting a small portion of a previous batch of fermented food into the start of new batch of food to be fermented. 

Having a pH of less than 7.

Acidification is the method of creating acidity.  Usually acidification is the end product of fermentation and plays one of the roles in how fermentation is used to preserve food in a safe manner.

Bacteria that require oxygen.

Possessing a pH level higher than 7.  The opposite of something being acidic is being alkaline.

Amino acids are the blocks that make up proteins.  The amino acids gather together to form chains that in turn create a wide variety of proteins.  Proteins are made up of twenty different types of amino acids.  Of the twenty types, nine are termed “essential” for people since they are not obtained through any other means other than through food.  Humans are unable to manufacture essential amino acids in their bodies.  

The lack of the need for oxygen or rather, the lack of oxygen itself. 

Anemia is the condition in which one possesses less than normal hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood.  This causes a reduction of oxygen circulating in the body and can cause a number of symptoms, especially fatigue and lethargy.  Anemia may be a result of insufficient B12, folate, and iron in the body.  It can also be caused by menstrual bleeding, a bone marrow disease, a break in red blood cells, and the abnormal formation of red blood cells. 

Something that is antibiotic is antibacterial – it fights bacteria.  It is a substance that retards or destroys the proliferation of both good and bad bacteria.

An antioxidant is a substance that mitigates or stops the harm caused by free radicals towards healthy cells. 

Apoptosis is cell death as programmed by the body depending upon one’s age and current state of cell health.  Inflammatory responses by the body are not usually associated with cells destroyed by apoptosis.  Apoptosis is fought against by cancer cells.

Fermentation is a kind of anaerobic process that releases energy; it breaks down carbohydrates and other substances into simpler substances.  Many microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and some molds access their energy through the process of fermentation.  The end result of each fermentation process is based upon which type of microorganism is active and the actual item being fermented.  Antibiotics are made from mold and bacterial fermentation for example.  Beer is made from the fermentation of yeast in grain, while wine is the result of yeast fermentation from fruit juice.  There are various methods of fermentation, and the process is often associated with products that are beneficial for the intestinal tract, such as kefir, yogurt and fermented pickles.  The art of fermentation has been growing in popularity in recent years as scientists and laypeople alike learn about the health benefits of consuming fermented foods to aid digestion, boost the immune system and prevent disease.

Aspergillus is a genus of mold often utilized in the fermenting of legumes and grains in Asia.

A condition that involves the body’s immune system fighting against one’s own tissues.  There is wide speculation in what causes the body to fight against itself.  One theory is that the body cannot break down proteins properly; therefore, when encountering these partly digested proteins in the blood stream due to intestinal permeability, the body attacks itself.  Because fermentation breaks down protein prior to human digestion, people with autoimmune conditions are often able to eat fermented food items that normally would illicit an autoimmune response – such as homemade fermented yogurt and homemade organic whole wheat sourdough bread. 

Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can survive either apart from other organisms,  dependently on other organisms or working together with other organisms.  When depending upon another organism for its survival, the parasitic bacteria may cause harm.

Something is termed “benign” to infer it is not harmful.  Benign cancer is cancer that is not or is no longer harmful to the body. 

The amount of degree and the speed at which a given compound attains systemic circulation and is brought to the targeted tissue of the body.

Brine is created with water and salt and used in the fermentation process to maintain a certain pH level of the water in order to retard the growth of bad bacteria and foster the growth of good bacteria.

Butyric acid is fatty acid that arises in the creation of esters located in animal fats, as well as some plant fats.  The fermentation of starch or sugar creates a large amount of butyric acid. 

Cancer is the formation of abnormal cells; these cells frequently grow at an alarming rate and may spread to any part of the body if not contained or removed.  The abnormal cells can manifest themselves in different ways in a single tissue.  The term “cancer” is an umbrella term that covers over a hundred different types of diseases.  The consumption of fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut, helps to prevent and retard the growth of cancer and disease due to their ability to fight bad bacteria with the good bacteria they contain.

Carbohydrates are created out of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon; they are neutral compounds.  Starches, fiber, and sugars are forms of carbohydrates.  They are thought of as a “macronutrient” due to the carbohydrate’s ability to provide a substantial amount of energy in one’s food intake. 

The term “cardiovascular” is used in reference to something relating to the heart and blood vessels.

A cataract is the fogging over of the eye’s lens; cataracts often cause visual impairment over time.  A number of sicknesses and diseases can be helped or alleviated with the consumption of fermented foods, such as yogurt, sauerkraut and kefir.  

Celiac disease (celiac sprue) is a genetic disease that results when the intestinal lining becomes inflamed as a result of someone eating protein gluten (as found in wheat products, rye, barley and often corn and oats).  Prevention of the inflammation is attained by not eating grains containing gluten.  The disruption of nutrient absorption can occur with celiac disease due to the inflammation and wasting away of the intestines.  This lack of absorption of nutrients can cause tremendous strain on the body and result in a number of symptoms. Because celiac disease is caused by someone unable to properly break down protein gluten, many people who have celiacs disease are able to consume properly fermented organic whole wheat sourdough bread because the fermentation process breaks down the protein gluten.  Thus, consuming the bread is no longer a problem for the intestines to digest.

Cholesterol is a compound that plays an essential structural part in cell membranes; it is a precursor in the making of steroid hormones.  The liver synthesizes cholesterol, but it is gathered into the body by consuming animal products.  Among the many things that can raise one’s unhealthy cholesterol levels, table salt is a major factor. 

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition of intense, long-term lethargy and tiredness that is not assuaged by sleep, relaxation or rest.  It is often associated with autoimmune diseases and may be a sign of vitamin deficiency, such as iron or vitamin D.  Eating probiotic foods such as homemade fermented sauerkraut, yogurt and kefir can have a large impact of those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome because the good bacteria in these foods fight bad bacteria, boost the immune system and result in higher energy levels. 

Collagen is an insoluble fibrous protein that is the foundation of healthy cartilage, tendons, cartilage, skin and other connective tissue.  There are over 15 types of collagen that are the building blocks of the human body.  It is the most abundant protein in the body.  As one ages, the creation of collagen in the body slows down, resulting in joint stiffness, a reduction in ligament and tendon elasticity and thin, weak skin.  Eating fermented foods that contain probiotics such as homemade yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut plays an important role in influencing the health of collagen in the body.  For example, eating probiotic foods influences the health of skin due to the impact of good bacteria on systemic inflammation throughout the body, tissue lipid content and glycemic control.  Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and rosacea are all skin conditions that can be helped by eating probiotic foods.

The colon is the area of the large intestines that reaches from the end of the small intestines to the rectum.  Its function is to clear away water from food that is been digested after it travels through the small intestine and holds the leftover stool until it is passed from the body.  Eating fermented foods plays a large role in keeping the colon healthy, because good bacteria in these foods fights bad bacteria from overpopulating the colon which can then result in disease and other health conditions.

Crohn’s disease is a type of autoimmune disease that may manifest itself anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract.  Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include on-going diarrhea, night sweats, weight loss, fever, constipation, abdominal pain and cramps, abnormal menstrual bleeding, fever, rectal bleeding, fatigue, lethargy and loss of appetite.  Those suffering from Crohn’s disease are frequently helped by the daily consumption of lacto-fermented foods such as homemade yogurt, homemade kefir and sauerkraut due to the beneficial good bacteria in these food items.  The good bacteria accomplishes a wide variety of functions, including fighting bad bacteria in the intestines, and creating an environment not compatible with pathogenic survival. 

Curing involves a variety of food preservation and flavoring methods made possible by creating a mixture of sugar, nitrates, nitrate and/or salt.  A number of curing methods include cooking, smoking and flavoring.  Dehydrating food was one of the first methods of curing. 

Cytokines are tiny protein molecules that are secreted by many cells and fit under the group of signaling molecules that are widely used in cellular communication.

Douchi is a popular salt-fermented food in China made out of soy.  The fermentation process turns the soybeans black and soft.  Douchi features a salty, sweet, somewhat bitter taste; its smell is rather pungent and spicy.

Dysbiosis is an unhealthy balance of intestinal bacteria in the gut.  Dr.Eli Metchnikoff popularized the term; he promoted the theory that all disease starts in one’s digestive tract due to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.  The term “symbiosis” is its opposite, which means things are living together in harmony with each other.  Eating fermented foods such as homemade yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut aids in restoring a correct balance of bacteria in the intestines and prevents dysbiosis from occurring.

Endotoxin are toxins released by particular bacteria.  The term “endotoxin” was coined by Richard Friedrich Johannes Pfeiffer.

An enzyme is a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing during the process.  Enzymes are essential in the correct functioning of organisms and cells.  Lacking a particular enzyme can result in a host of problems due to the lack of chain reactions that the enzyme is responsible for starting.  An example of the importance an enzyme plays is when someone is lactose intolerant; such a person lacks the enzyme in his/her stomach to break down milk sugar, causing uncomfortable symptoms to result. 

Essential fatty acids are fatty acids that animals and humans must obtain through their food.  These acids cannot be manufactured in the body; they are called “essential” due to their necessity for maintaining good health. 

A fatty acid is an organic acid molecule made up of a carboxylic acid group and a chain of carbon molecules.  They can be obtained in oil, fat and as parts in a variety of essential lipids such as triglycerides.  The body can use fatty acids to create energy. 

Fibromyalgia is a painful, chronic, widespread condition that is intensified by pressure on the body.  It is often associated with poor memory, lack of sleep, mood disorders, fatigue and lethargy.  Statistically, more women than men suffer from this medical condition.  As with many health conditions, fibromyalgia can be helped by a healthy diet, including the consumption of fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir to foster a healthy balance of gut flora in the intestines.  Maintaining healthy intestinal flora are essential for those suffering from chronic health conditions because over 80% of the immune system is found in the gut.  Boosting the immune system can assist a person fighting any health condition or disease. 

A kind of fiber that functions as a prebiotic in the intestines to provide food for the good microflora. 

A prebiotic is a non-digestible fermented food substance that fosters the proliferation and activity of good bacteria in the intestinal tract.  When a prebiotic and a probiotic are put together, they create a “symbiotic.”  Kefir and yogurt are considered to be symbiotic because not only do they host live, beneficial bacteria, but they also contain the fuel or food that the probiotic bacteria needs in order to survive and thrive in the digestive tract. 

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can benefit the health of their host.  They control the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the intestinal tract and promote healthy microflora.  The term “probiotics” was coined by Stillwell and Lilly in 1965.  Probiotics can be found in fermented items such as kefir, yogurt and sauerkraut. 

A synbiotic is a product that contains both prebiotics and probiotics.  Yogurt is an example of a synbiotic.