The word isn't all that appetizing, really -- fermented. It sounds like something that happens to gym socks left in a locker over a long weekend. But fermented foods are packed with beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, and can be a nutritious addition to a healthy diet.

What exactly are fermented foods? According to this article, they are foods that use microorganisms to convert the carbs in a given food to alcohol or acid. This prevents the food from spoiling, and also gives fermented food a nice tangy flavor. Examples of common fermented foods are:

• yogurt
• kefir
• sauerkraut (non-pasteurized)
• kimchi
  
  

You can easily make your own kefir and yogurt at home, if that interests you. Or you can find these and other fermented foods at your local health food store.

For more tips on what makes a healthy food choice, check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off! and their article on How to Stock a Healthy Refrigerator.

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Americans have a long lifespan, on average, but as this article points out, that's more down to fancy medicines than actual healthy living. There seems to be this worldwide cliche of Americans being unhealthy and generally obese, and if you travel often, you'll know that it's kind of true -- we do eat more and we are lazier.

So maybe it's time that we look to other countries for healthy living inspiration. Here's where we can find it, according to Dr. Oz:

• In Costa Rica, they eat fruit ever day
• In Sardinia, the wine has 10 times more antioxidants than other wines
• In India, curry spices ward off dementia and Alzheimer's
• In Okinawa, Japan, they drink tea instead of coffee. And they only ever eat until they're 80% full
• In Turkey, Kefir (a form of yogurt) is a regular par of the diet, providing lots of healthy antibiotics.
  

What healthy habits have you learned from other cultures?

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