Coffee, cheese, yellow cheese, bacon, bread and even chocolate - these and other foods are actually home to millions of microorganisms. They have characteristic aromas, tastes, colors and textures, which are entirely the result of the activity of bacteria and fungi living in these foods or involved in their production.
A huge number of microbes (about 99%) are completely harmless to human health. One percent of pathogenic (pathogenic) microbes are among the strongest threats to the survival of many mammals, such as humans, but also birds and other animals. They have all developed a natural behavioral response - the type of particularly dirty object or setting is repulsive . Rotten flesh, for example, has a disgusting appearance and odor that prevents ingestion and possible poisoning.
Fortunately, if harmless microbes appear on the food first , they can hold back the onset of harmful pathogens. A good example is a piece of meat left at room temperature: it offers the perfect combination of heat, moisture and body temperature.
Adding significant amounts of salt to leftover meat leads to faster development and multiplication of salt-tolerant harmless bacteria, which makes them more competitive than salt-sensitive bacteria. Salted regularly, the meat can continue its fermentation processes until it becomes a significantly more durable salami.
The ancestors of modern man introduced similar processes of controlled spoilage of food thousands of years ago for long-term storage, but today, it is used for much more specialized purposes: fungi, for example, feed on sugars and starch compounds found in dough and "Belch" - emit gas, the formation of bubbles leading to swelling of the dough.
An even more exotic transformation occurs when fungal microorganisms are fed cocoa. They break it down only partially, removing the bitter-tasting polyphenols and participating in the rich and complex taste of chocolate .
Fermented foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, sauerkraut, soy sauce, kombucha, pickles, prosciutto and more. are important for human health, act as a powerful probiotic that supports gastrointestinal balance, improves digestion and strengthens the body's immune defenses.
For additional information we attach the following video :