Gut health is all the rage these days.

It’s all down to our relatively new understanding and appreciation of the gut… and the importance of nourishing the good bacteria that live down there.

How? By feeding them the foods they thrive on; namely fermented saurkraut, kefir, sprouts and pickles.

Now you can learn how to make these foods and drinks yourself at home, with a Fermentation 101 class taking place in Cookery Cottage, South Douglas Road on Wednesday, May 30th.

Class participants will make bubbly water kefir, beetroot recovery kvass and saurkraut, while also taking away plenty of fermenting tips and ideas.

The class, run by The Food Remedy, begins at 7pm and tickets, €35, are available here.

Why should I be eating more fermented foods?

Fermented foods help reduce inflammation; the body’s response to stress or illness. Chronic inflammation has been linked to serious diseases including cancer, heart disease, skin problems and musculo-skeletal conditions, to name but a few.

Fermented foods contain good bacteria called probiotics, which are anti-inflammatory and help digestion.

Scientific evidence suggests that a healthy microbiome (the microorganisms that live in your body) can even boost the endocrine and nervous system. In fact, more than 90 percent of the body’s happy hormone seratonin is produced in the gut.