It may surprise you to find out that Americans eat around 387 million pounds of sauerkraut a year. Or that the U.S. imported more than 20 million pounds of kimchi in 2023 (kimchi is spicy, pickled cabbage from Korea).

These tangy fermented foods are increasingly popular, and they provide more than a gut-loving flavor boost. They boost your mood as well, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Their secret powers come from the fact that they help optimize your gut biome. The Microbiology Society explains that "fermented foods such as kimchi ... contain amino acids [such as tryptophan] which are key to the production of [the brain neurotransmitter] serotonin. Consuming these foods can have a positive impact on mood and stress reduction."

Currently, Irish researchers are looking at the impact of eating some 200 different fermented foods to see how they affect your mental health. Their preliminary results indicate that almost all have some beneficial effect on both gut and brain health.

If you don't like sauerkraut or kimchi, there are a lot of choices, including tempeh, miso, kefir, kombucha, and natto, as well as table olives, plain yogurt, and sourdough bread.

To gain the mood-boosting and gut-healing benefits, try adding two servings of fermented foods a day to your diet.

And try out the recipes for Roasted Trout with Crauti and Tempeh Salad Veronique in Dr. Mike's "What To Eat When Cookbook."