Fermented Foods May Be the Answer to Getting More Protein

If you’ve ever wandered down the protein powder aisle at the grocery store, you’ll know that the struggle to make sense of these endless tubs is real.

I’ve always been active, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that my doctor suggested I might benefit from a little extra protein. While I’m typically someone who prefers to get my nutrients from food versus supplements, I figured there was no harm in also trying out a protein powder. That weekend on a random trip to Costco, I picked up a tub of whatever powder was in stock and patted myself on the back for being proactive.

It was a bust. On day one, I mixed my shake at breakfast only to find myself battling to choke down the lumpy chalk-like liquid. Within a week, I started experiencing bloating and general discomfort any time I had a shake. I decided protein powder wasn’t for me, and the tub was left to collect dust at the back of my cupboard.

Recently another tub of protein powder landed on my desk.

Popular supplement brand Genuine Health recently launched fermented Greek yogurt proteins+, a new protein powder that uses fermentation to help your body better absorb the nutrients.

“Healthy digestion is truly the foundation of great health, and one of the easiest and quickest ways to boost the bacteria in your gut — and thereby improve gut health — is to eat fermented foods,” says Joy McCarthy, a holistic nutritionist and founder of the blog Joyous Health.

What makes this protein powder different is that it contains fermented Greek yogurt, which claims to help you better absorb the protein supplements.

Here’s how fermented foods work:

“Fermented foods provide food for the good bacteria in the form of prebiotics and introduce a variety of probiotics into your gut,” McCarthy explains.

“In fact, some yogurts and keffirs — a fermented type of yogurt — can literally contain billions of active live bacteria. These good bacteria have so many roles. They keep your immune system strong, they keep you lean, they support mental health, and they even help with the manufacture and absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.”

“The variety of probiotics in fermented foods are specifically why people find they improve their digestion and why it really helps to prevent issues like bloating and gas.”

So why would you want this in a protein powder? Mainly for convenience.

I love kimchi, miso soup, and a range of other fermented foods, but incorporating these into your diet — especially on a daily basis — can be a real challenge. Also, by mixing fermented foods with a protein supplement, you’re improving the gut lining so that your body is better able to absorb nutrients, helping you get both your protein and your probiotics all in one shot — or smoothie, if you prefer.

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