Probiotics are live microorganisms and provide a lot of nutrients, that’s why it is important to know probiotic rich foods.
Probiotics — which are usually beneficial bacteria — provide all sorts of powerful benefits for your body and brain.
While a person can take probiotic supplements, there are also many probiotic foods available.
Examples of ways to add probiotic foods to a healthful diet include:
- Enjoying a breakfast of probiotic yogurt with berries, flax seeds, and nuts.
- Cooking a stir-fry, using tempeh as a meat replacement. However, it is best to incorporate tempeh at the end of cooking as excessive heating can destroy the active cultures.
- Incorporating miso into soups. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a recipe for black bean soup with miso and ginger.
- Drinking probiotic-rich beverages, such as kefir or kombucha, as a mid-morning snack.
- Serving sauerkraut as a side dish to main meals.
Learn more about probiotic rich foods in this article,
Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics, which are friendly bacteria that can improve your health.
It is made from milk that has been fermented by friendly bacteria, mainly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.
Eating yogurt is associated with many health benefits, including improved bone health. It is also beneficial for people with high blood pressure.
In children, yogurt may help reduce the diarrhea caused by antibiotics. It can even help relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Additionally, yogurt may be suitable for people with lactose intolerance. This is because the bacteria turn some of the lactose into lactic acid, which is also why yogurt tastes sour.
However, keep in mind that not all yogurt contains live probiotics. In some cases, the live bacteria have been killed during processing.
For this reason, make sure to choose yogurt with active or live cultures.
Also, make sure to always read the label on yogurt before you buy it. Even if it is labeled low-fat or fat-free, it may still be loaded with high amounts of added sugar.
Kefir
Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk drink. It is made by adding kefir grains to cow’s or goat’s milk.
The grains of Kefir are not cereal grains, but rather cultures of lactic acid bacteria and yeast that look a bit like cauliflower.
The word kefir allegedly comes from the Turkish word keyif, which means “feeling good” after eating.
Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria and yeast, making it a diverse and potent probiotic.
Like yogurt, kefir is generally well tolerated by people who are lactose intolerant.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by lactic acid bacteria.
It is one of the oldest traditional foods and is popular in many countries, especially in Europe.
Sauerkraut is often used on top of sausages or as a side dish. It has a sour, salty taste and can be stored for months in an airtight container.
In addition to its probiotic qualities, sauerkraut is rich in fiber as well as vitamins C, B and K. It is also high in sodium and contains iron and manganese.
Sauerkraut also contains the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important for eye health.
Make sure to choose unpasteurized sauerkraut, as pasteurization kills the live and active bacteria. You can find raw types of sauerkraut online.
Also Read: Incredibly Healthy Foods For Your Heart
