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Fermentation Is Having a Moment — And We’re Here for It
- Tara Scott
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Why ancient wisdom is back on the table — and what the science now says
In September, Tim Spector will publish his new book Ferment: The Life-Changing Power of Microbes. The message? Fermented foods for gut health aren’t a wellness fad — they’re a return to what’s always worked.
At Enriched Being, we’ve spent the last year quietly working behind the scenes to create Big Shot — our fermented, cold-pressed microgreen juice. We’ve just launched to our Founders group, and we’re excited to see the science and public interest catching up with what we’ve been building.
But fermentation isn’t new. In fact, it’s thousands of years old. So… why did it disappear from the Western diet — and what are we rediscovering now?
Why Fermented Foods for Gut Health Matter More Than Ever
Fermentation is a natural process where microbes — like bacteria or yeast — break down sugars in food. This simple shift transforms foods into something even more powerful, creating organic acids, enzymes, vitamins, and beneficial bacteria in the process.
In short: it takes raw ingredients and unlocks more nutrition, more bioactivity, and more support for your gut.
Then Why Did We Stop Fermenting?
For most of human history, fermentation was essential. It preserved food, enhanced flavour, and supported digestion long before refrigeration or supplements existed.
But in the last century — especially post-WWII — something changed. We replaced fermented foods for gut health with mass-produced, shelf-stable alternatives that offered convenience, but little nutritional benefit.
The rise of pasteurised, sterilised, and ultra-processed foods meant live, fermented foods were often:
Replaced with vinegar-based imitations (think: supermarket pickles)
Pasteurised after fermentation, killing off the live microbes
Omitted entirely in favour of synthetic additives and preservatives
In the process, we lost a vital connection to our food — and to our microbes.
The Science Behind Fermented Foods for Gut Health
Thanks to advances in microbiome research, we now understand how fermented foods for gut health help increase microbial diversity, reduce inflammation, and support everything from digestion to mental clarity. We now know that:
The gut is central to almost every system in the body — from immune regulation to mental health
Gut diversity (a variety of microbial species) is crucial for resilience
Fermented foods are one of the most effective ways to naturally boost that diversity
Recent studies have shown that fermented foods can:
Increase the number and variety of beneficial gut bacteria
Improve nutrient absorption — particularly iron, calcium, B vitamins, and antioxidants
Support the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that reduce inflammation
Strengthen the gut lining and protect against leaky gut
Influence mood, stress, and sleep via the gut-brain axis
These aren’t fringe ideas — they’re findings from respected journals and global research initiatives. What’s exciting is how quickly change can happen: some studies show noticeable shifts in the microbiome in just 6–8 weeks of daily fermented food intake.
Why We Created Big Shot
We created Big Shot to make daily fermentation effortless — especially for busy people who care about health but don’t always have time to ferment at home or track down raw, unpasteurised options.
Here’s what makes Big Shot different:
Grown, cold-pressed, and fermented in-house using our own microgreens
No added sugar, no preservatives, no stabilisers
Wild fermentation using naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria (LAB)
Raw, alive, and bottled fresh — nothing diluted or deadened
We start with microgreens like broccoli, sunflower, and red cabbage, which already contain high levels of enzymes, antioxidants, and polyphenols. Then we cold-press and ferment to unlock even more bioavailability and introduce new beneficial metabolites.
What you get is real food that works hard for your health, in just 30ml a day.
Food As Prevention — Not Perfection
We’re not saying this is a magic fix — but it’s a meaningful step. Adding fermented foods like Big Shot into your routine can help you:
Reduce bloating and inflammation
Support gut balance and digestion
Boost natural energy and recovery
Build daily resilience, one shot at a time
And that’s the beauty of fermentation: it’s not about restriction or perfection. It’s about adding back in what was lost — a quiet powerhouse of health that’s been sitting on the sidelines for too long.
Final Thought
We’re in the middle of a food reawakening — one where the pendulum is swinging back toward real, functional, living nutrition.
As more people rediscover the value of fermented foods for gut health, we’re proud to offer a solution that’s backed by science and rooted in real food.
As Tim Spector and others champion the return of fermented foods, we’re proud to be part of that shift with Big Shot — reconnecting people to food that heals, energises, and empowers.
Because sometimes, looking forward starts by looking back — and reclaiming the microbial allies we never should have lost.
→ Ready to start? Try Big Shot and discover what 30ml of real fermented plant power can do.
