I just have to share two brands of sauerkraut that are so good that I eat them for taste, not just as food-medicine. Sauerkraut is a fabulous addition to daily diets because it has probiotics, fiber, and is easily digestible. It also happens to be low-calorie, filling, and a fantastic way to get a different variety of vitamins and minerals into your body instead of relying on the ones that are regularly in your routine. Variety matters when it comes to your best health. I started eating sauerkraut with gluten free crackers a few years ago, and back then it was solely to better my digestive health, but now I have really fallen for the taste, especially of the two brands below.
Pangea Garlic Dill Sauerkraut
This one is easily my favorite. I get it in the refrigerated section of my local food co-op, PCC, and it looks like it is in a variety of markets, at least here in Washington. It is made in Bellingham, WA, so the reach might be limited; I am not sure. I hope you can find it though wherever you are because it is so good it will change everything you ever thought you knew about sauerkraut.
Pickled Planet I-Boost Herbal Krauts
This Herbal Kraut is a close second in terms of taste. It was the first sauerkraut I had that I genuinely enjoyed the taste, and not only that, but it also has unique ingredients such as horseradish, nettle, and burdock that boost its health promoting qualities. (Hence its name, I-Boost Herbal Krauts.) I buy this one at Whole Foods and it looks like it can be found in quite a bit of the U.S, plus you can order it online. I do not have it in right now, so I will share the product photo from Pickled Planets’ page:
How to Eat Kraut
Obviously, eat it any way you like! But if you want to get the most health benefits from fermented foods, switch up the ones that you eat, if not daily or weekly, at least buy varied brands each time you restock. You can return to your favorites often, but eating a variety is truly what is best for your gut’s health. Since I was not a sauerkraut fan in the beginning, the only way I could eat it was with crackers. I would put a tablespoon or two of kraut in a bowl and scoop it up with gluten free crackers as a snack. Now, even though I have grown to truly like the taste of sauerkraut, I still enjoy the crunch of a cracker balancing it out.
Fermented Foods
We have so many things working against our digestive systems, especially if we adhere to the modern Western diet, such as ultra-processed foods, glysophate, too much sugar and salt, and much much more. Adding fermented foods can help balance out diets and add health promoting probiotics back into our cores. Choosing a variety to eat is the best way to make the most of what fermented foods offer. Other fermented foods to consider include: kefir, kimchi, kombucha, miso, sourdough bread, tempeh, and yogurt.
What are your favorite fermented foods? I’d love to hear about them! Happy Eating!🥣
*I’m not affiliated with any of the products in this post.