Probiotics are a great way to increase the beneficial bacteria in your body. You can greatly increase the beneficial bacteria in your body by eating foods rich in probiotics. Certain foods contain probiotics and can benefit your microbiome and your overall health.
Probiotics are known as good bacteria because certain probiotic foods aid digestion and can contribute to a healthier gut flora. Probiotics are found in supplements and certain food products. Health providers often recommend probiotics foods like yogurt and cheese to help solve various digestive problems and improve the immune system.
Fortunately, you can introduce probiotic foods to your regular diet at any time of the day. You can even be constantly eating them without realizing that such foods contain probiotics. You’ll often find the words ‘live and active cultures’ on the product label. In this article, you’ll learn why food probiotics are good for your gut and what foods you should be eating in order to reap maximum benefits.
Why Probiotic Food Is Good For Your Gut
It is vital to add probiotic food to your diet because there are amazing health benefits associated with them. Consuming probiotic foods can help with digestion. It helps to enhance or restore the functions of your gut microbiome.
Most of the microorganisms that live naturally in the human body are similar to those found in probiotic foods, probiotics drinks and probiotic supplements. The consumption of these can improve your gut microbiome, which explains why it’s extremely important to eat both pro and prebiotic foods.
Next, make sure you are consuming a healthy and balanced meal at all times. While adding these foods to your diet cannot harm you, creating a proper balance is still very important. Eating too much on one type will prevent your body from enjoying the maximum benefits of the other food types.
Here are the 7 Top Probiotic Foods That You Should Eat
Probiotics are found in supplements, but they are also found in dairy products and fermented foods.
Looking to give probiotic rich foods a try? The following are the top 7 healthy sources of probiotics that you should add to your regular diet.
Yogurt
This is perhaps the best-known food with probiotics in the western diet. The probiotics in yogurt aid in building you a strong immunity and are also good at reducing inflammatory bowel disease.
It boasts anti-aging and skin health benefits that are vital to a woman’s skin routine. Aging is believed to be brought about by a lack of nutrients and yogurt gives you a lot of vitamins, calcium, and zinc which are a great source of proteins. Probiotic yogurt may also help with acne, reduction of pigmentation, and removal of sunburn.
Miso Soup
Miso soup is made from fermented soybeans and other ingredients, such as water, salt and koji. It is highly nutritious and has a variety of benefits including improved digestion that helps reduce gas, constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. Miso is also packed with nutrients that strengthen the immune system thanks to its immune boosting nutrition.
Additionally, this Japanese fermented soybean item is believed to improve brain health by reducing anxiety, autism, stress, and depression. It provides the body with the overall relaxation of mental and physical wellness.
Sauerkraut and Kimchi
Sauerkraut and Kimchi are made from fermented cabbage. Originally made to preserve cabbage, it is now a very popular meat substitute in many parts of the world. It provides vitamins and dietary fiber that promotes digestion, lowers cholesterol, and balances blood sugar. The helpful bacteria found in these products improves gut health.
Sauerkraut is a great source of folate, which is known to lower the risk of heart disease, age-related hearing loss, and gum disease. When taken in adequate quantities, kimchi contain vitamin A, a vital nutrient for promoting proper vision and reducing inflammation. It’s also great in the growth and development of young ones. Fortunately, you can customize your Sauerkraut and kimchi to suit your preferred flavor profile.
Probiotic milk drink-Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk drink similar to yogurt, but thinner. Like yogurt, kefir is packed with gut-friendly probiotic bacteria, including the lactic acid bacteria known as lactobacillus. The bacteria are known for easing bloating and other digestion issues.
Regular intake of Kefir helps with controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Kefir is also a great source of proteins and amino acids that helps in the growth and repair of muscles. Proteins are great bone builders and also replaces new skin cell.
Similarly, kombucha refers to a fermented drink that may boost your energy levels. Both kefir and kombucha contain live and active cultures that may enhance the antioxidant levels in the body. Kombucha tea is usually made using a symbiotic combination of bacteria and yeast, which is essential for the fermentation process.
Tempeh
Tempeh is made from partially cooked and fermented soybeans which contain nutrients that are healthy for human consumption. It contains zero cholesterol and is high in calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamin B. Tempeh contains cancer-fighting and antioxidant properties that prevent cancer. It also lowers inflammation, assists in relieving hot flashes that comes with menopause, improve cholesterol levels and thus, protecting the heart and general body health.
Tempeh improves the digestion system therefore prevents bloating and gas that is brought about by digestive disorders.
Pickles
Pickles are mostly made using fermented cucumbers, which provide a lot of probiotic benefits. They contain live cultures or probiotics that improve digestion processes and prevent stomach disorders. The probiotics in this product may help prevent cancer and heart disease they have also proven to fight free radicals.
Nonetheless, pickles that make use of vinegar during the fermentation process do not have any probiotic effects.
Cheese
Cheese is another great source of probiotics. This delicious and nutritious product can be eaten by itself or added to other dishes. Cheeses contain a variety of nutrients which include vitamins A, B-6, B-12, C, and D. Regular consumption of cheese rather than ordinary dairy products also provides important minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium, sodium, calcium that aid in strengthening teeth and bone health improvement to the human body.
Cheese is rich in proteins that offer body energy and builds blocks for strong muscles. Apart from being rich in fats as well as minerals, and proteins, raw and soft cheeses might be beneficial for heart health, brain functioning, immunity-boosting, and gut support.
Conclusion
If you take probiotic rich foods in sufficient quantities on a daily basis, you will enjoy the many probiotic benefits they offer. You will restore your gut bacteria naturally and reduce the bowel disorders. Your immunity will be restored and your mental health disorders, such as stress, depression, and anxiety, will be improved.
You can also get probiotics from supplements and fermented foods. Probiotic supplements are also available in liquid, capsule, powder and tablet forms. They may not offer the nutritional support like probiotic foods, but they are also a great choice to increase helpful gut bacteria. However, it’s important to note that different probiotics may be ideal for different people.
If you have any questions about probiotics food – or you are experiencing digestive issues or other specific symptoms, please contact your doctor or a gastroenterologist. They are experts in gut health and will be able to provide medical advice and the right treatment for you.