Series: Wura Season 1-3 (2025) Nollywood

Fermented foods make up major staple food in the past in many native meals, but recently there's been an increase in popularity. Why? This is because eating fermented foods could be a good way to naturally boost the health of your digestive and immune systems. 

They're are loaded with probiotics, and there is an increasing awareness of the benefits of these "good" bacteria in maintaining optimal health. They may sound too odd for you, but don't be put off. 

Examples of fermented foods are yogurt, cheese, pap, locust beans, fufu, etc.

So, what's fermentation?

It's best explained as a chemical process in which microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeasts, and their enzymes break down starches and sugars within the foods, possibly making them easier to digest. The end product is a nourishing food that is filled with helpful organisms and enzymes. 

A lot of fermented foods are made by adding a starter culture of bacteria to food. For example, yogurt is made when a culture is added to milk, while locust beans are made when a culture is introduced during processing.

Also, fermented veggies are made by shredding or cutting the vegetable into small pieces, which are then packed into an airtight container with some saltwater.

Why you should eat fermented foods:

They are filled with healthy probiotics and enzymes, and here are their benefits:

They enhance digestion, balance the gut bacteria, help to fight off disease-producing microorganisms, and boost immunity.

Fermented foods are rich in nutrients. Also, nutrients are produced during the various stages of fermentation.

A natural way to get probiotics and you are guaranteed to get live strains, thus improving the likelihood that you are giving your system what it actually needs. Less of strains produced from isolation in a laboratory.

These foods are more affordable than many probiotic formulations or supplements.