Explainer | why fermented foods, and drinks like kombucha, are good for your brain too

Blueberries, walnuts, fatty fish and green leafy vegetables are popular “brain foods” that have been linked to better memory and reduced risk of cognitive impairment. Fermented foods can

also be added to the “brain health” booster list. Advertisement Fermented foods are a source of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that plays a role in the production of serotonin – a

chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and plays an important role in body functions such as mood, sleep, digestion and sexual desire. A new study, in its initial

stages, suggests that some fermented foods may have a bigger impact than others when it comes to brain health, which isn’t surprising seeing as what’s good for our gut is also believed to be

good for our brain. According to one of the study’s researchers – Ramya Balasubramanian of APC Microbiome Ireland, at University College Cork – about 200 fermented foods have the potential

to improve gut and brain health. Fermented sugar-based products and fermented vegetable-based products, in particular, “are like winning the lottery when it comes to gut and brain health”,

Balasubramanian says. Advertisement Fermented foods and beverages offer a bounty of benefits for our digestive system because they often contain probiotics, either naturally occurring or

added during the fermentation process, says Cyrus Luk, a dietitian and executive committee member of the Hong Kong Dietitians’ Association. Lactobacilli, for example, is a common probiotic

strain found in yogurt.