A cure in a meal: U.S. Sauerkraut sales expected to skyrocket Fremont, OH—October 18, 2005—In yet another indication that Sauerkraut is the super food of the 21st century, scientists at Seoul National University have successfully used Kimchi Sauerkraut to treat chickens infected with avian flu. Kimchi is a seasoned variety of sauerkraut that shares Lactobacillus bacteria with traditional Sauerkraut, which may be the critical element in preventing Avian Flu. Both Kimchi and traditional Sauerkraut are made by fermenting sliced cabbage, producing a high level of lactic acid.
The results of a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry concluded that sauerkraut is a cancer inhibitor. The study discovered that the fermentation of cabbage (how sauerkraut is made) produced a substance called isothiocynates, which prevents cancer growth, particularly in the breast, colon, lung and liver. Packed with vitamins, iron, and fiber, sauerkraut is also rich in cruciferous phytochemicals, which have long been proven to have disease fighting powers.
After hearing this story on the radio the other day I got to thinking...I like kraut...in fact, I love it! It's krispy, a little salty and tastes great...so why wasn't I eating more of it. When I checked out the nutrition label on a bag of Frank's Kraut at the grocery store today...I was thinking that I should have been buying this stuff by the 55 gallon drum!
Kraut has only 5 calories per serving....5 CALORIES!!! That's almost the same caloric content of water for goodness sakes! But, it's packed with nutrients and is so good for you...why not enjoy it? So, I've added kraut to my shopping list and my arsenal of weapons to fight my salty food cravings. It's virtually void of calores and fat (therefore 0 points) so I can have as much as I want...whenever I want. I will be drinking more water to counteract the possible water retention problem..but hey...if it makes me drink more water..that's good too.
Basically, kraut might just be the perfect weight loss food! Enjoy!!! Colette
-- Edited by Colette at 17:46, 2006-01-04
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**Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything.....but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs!
