Embrace Gut Health with Fermented Foods!

If you’re looking for a simple yet impactful way to boost your health this month, we’ve got just the suggestion for you—eat sauerkraut and yogurt, just not together 😊. Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, among others we will explore shortly, have remarkable benefits for your well-being.

Fermented Foods for Gut Health

Fermented foods are foods and beverages that are produced through controlled microbial growth and have been shown to have a profound impact on our health. The magic behind these fermented wonders lies in the process of fermentation, where bacteria and yeast break down sugars into lactic acid. This lactic acid bacteria, often referred to as probiotics or “good bacteria,” do wonders for your gut health, and in turn, your overall health and wellness. These foods not only improve digestion and help maintain a healthy body weight but also play a vital role in reducing inflammation and supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways.

To highlight this, a recent study from Stanford Medical School discovered that consuming fermented foods can assist in weight loss and reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. So, adding these probiotic-rich foods to your diet is a win-win for your taste buds and your health! Here are some examples of fermented foods that can help nurture your gut microbiome:

  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Tempeh
  • Natto
  • Kombucha
  • Miso
  • Kimchi
  • Sauerkraut
  • Fermented pickles (made with salt instead of vinegar)
  • Olives

In the study highlighted above, the participants consumed up to 6 servings a day of fermented foods! Don’t worry, you do not need to go that far to experience the benefits. Aim for one serving of a fermented food per day. To help you get started, here’s a great recipe for Kimchi Egg Muffins – enjoy!

For More Information on Gut Health from RVNAhealth

If you’re interested in learning more or need help with gut health issues, our RVNAhealth Nutritionist, Monica Marcello, RD, regularly holds informational presentations and cooking classes out in the communities we serve. You can also connect with Monica by signing up for her monthly nutrition newsletter or by contacting her with questions at nutrition@rvnahealth.org.

Monica Marcello, RVNAhealth Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator

About Monica: Monica Marcello, MS, RD is RVNAhealth’s registered dietitian and nutrition educator who promotes holistic health, longevity, and quality of life. Monica’s areas of expertise include disease prevention and treatment for many chronic and acute conditions.

 

It Looks Like Winter Outside, But We’re Thinking Spring!

RVNAhealth will host its 23rd Annual Spring Breakfast on Friday, April 26, 2024 from 7:30am-9:00am at The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. The Board of Directors, Spring Breakfast Committee, and friends of the organization look forward to celebrating the meaningful work of RVNAhealth and the continuum of care the agency provides throughout 35+ Connecticut communities.

Each year, the Spring Breakfast brings together 400 local business leaders, medical professionals, community groups, and RVNAhealth supporters to welcome spring and raise funds critical to patient care and program support. Funds raised allow RVNAhealth to care for patients and clients regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial circumstances and have a lasting impact on the lives of those served as well as their families. It is truly an inspiring morning and a great way to start the day!

We invite you to be moved by our impact speaker who will share insight into RVNAhealth’s dedication to providing exceptional care that has a lifechanging impact upon patients and their families. This firsthand account of an experience that any of us might find ourselves in is a true testament to the notion that we are all in this together, and we know we can’t do what we do without you!

You are invited to become a sponsor or host a table at this year’s event, which will include a delicious breakfast, live auction with travel and entertainment packages, and a raffle that includes dozens of prizes. You may purchase sponsorships or tables online at RVNAhealth.org or contact Debbie Campbell, Development Manager, at 203.438.5555, x1249 or dcampbell@rvnahealth.org.

The Wellness Academy – Oh My How We’ve Grown!

Have you participated in any of our RVNAhealth Wellness Academy offerings? If you have, fantastic! If you have not, let us take a moment to invite you to check it out!

RVNAhealth has always been deeply rooted in providing more than just healthcare to the communities we serve. For years we’ve provided various educational programming at our offices or out in the community. The COVID pandemic unfortunately put a significant pause to those efforts. But in the fall of 2022, educational efforts were revived under the leadership of Kim Cafiero, RVNAhealth Marketing Director, and Lisa Fleming, Marketing Community Outreach. With a new name, the RVNAhealth “Wellness Academy” was launched and, wow, how we’ve grown!

From over 50 educational programming events and 1000 attendees in that first year, to now tracking towards 100+ events and doubling attendance in our second year back in full operation – the Wellness Academy has kept Cafiero’s and Fleming ‘s scheduling skills in top performing shape! “Ninety-five percent of our programming is offered free to the public and is delivered by RVNAhealth clinicians and health and wellness experts who willingly take time out of their day or evening schedules to present to the public. RVNAhealth is incredibly fortunate to have employees and relationships with other experts who are deeply passionate and educated in so many health and wellness areas. And we cannot go without recognizing our RVNAhealth donors, whose generosity also contributes greatly toward our ability to deliver this extensive amount of programming,” says Fleming.

What types of classes are offered?

The range of Wellness Academy topics provided are extensive and include topics such as: nutrition, exercise, osteoporosis prevention, medication management, brain health, fall prevention, Medicare enrollment, safety in the home, dementia, Parkinson’s disease management, and much more! In addition to educational classes, we also have an ongoing series of monthly support groups for bereavement, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and caregiver support. RVNAhealth Wellness Academy classes are offered year-round at our Ridgefield office and at select community locations across the various towns we serve.

How do I stay up to date with Wellness Academy offerings?

The Wellness Academy listing of available classes can be found at the RVNAhealth calendar page. When viewing events, we recommend that you follow any registration instructions in order to be kept informed of any further classes details or changes (e.g. for possible weather delays in the winter). Additionally, be sure to follow our monthly Wellness Academy article in the RVNAhealth Pulse newsletter, where we list out all classes and support groups along with registration links for the coming month.

Here’s to lifelong learning! We hope to see you soon!

The Wellness Academy can be found at the RVNAhealth Calendar site.