Alice Critchley

How much does your gut actually affect your skin? We explore the gut–skin axis, inflammation, and how fermented foods may play a role.

Fermented foods are meant to last, but that doesn’t stop people hesitating when they open the fridge, spot a date on the label, and wonder whether something is still okay to eat.

Some fermented foods sit on a shelf at room temperature, while others need to live in the fridge. That difference usually comes down to whether a ferment is pasteurised or live and raw — and it explains a lot about how fermented foods behave once you get them home.