Essential Guide to Pickling
Preserving your favourite fruit and veg has never been easier
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE
The art of pickling dates back over 4,000 years as it has been said to hold a host of health benefits, while also helping to reduce waste, by preserving food. For example, Roman emperor Caesar would feed his troops pickles to improve their spiritual and physical strength, while Egyptian ruler Cleopatra consumed a steady diet of fermented foods as she believed they increased her beauty. Nowadays, fermented food is celebrated for its high levels of probiotic bacteria, which promotes a healthy gut and digestive systems.
Beneits of pickling
During the fermentation process, probiotics that aid gut health are produced. These help to ease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which often causes painful cramps, constipation and bloating. This means that the bacteria can have a positive impact on the immune system, and their high probiotic content will help to reduce the risk of infections, such as the common cold, while also aiding a quicker recovery time. Pickled foods also assist the body to break down nutrients while destroying anti-nutrients – which can affect absorption rates. These are often found in nuts, seeds and grains.