Probiotic Foods For A Healthy Gut

What are Probiotic Foods?

Our bodies contain millions of different biomes, but the microbiome in your gut plays a crucial role in overall health by helping control the digestive system. Without a healthy digestive system, foods that help us stay healthy and active are unable to digest and place the nutrients correctly to feed the body. Poor gut health can lead things like diabetes, autoimmune disease, skin problems, bad breath, sugar cravings, and sensitivities to certain foods. Sometimes, deep discomfort can also be due to the body’s inability to produce enough stomach acid, so some foods can end up fermenting in the stomach.

Like with a variety of other bodily dysfunctions, there is a nutritional solution for poor gut health. Probiotic foods can drastically improve the health of your gut and in turn, the rest of your body. Probiotics are better known as the body’s “good bacteria.” Here we will explore ten nutritional options that can improve your well-being and quality of life.

Top 10 Probiotic Eats

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is delicious probiotic food. It is one of the few fermented foods that are excessively good for the bacteria in certain parts of the body due to its probiotic cultures. It also strengthens the digestive tract. Greek yogurt adds an extra boost of probiotics like Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Casei that will promote good bacteria in the gut.

2. Sauerkraut

This powerful vegetable proves once again that fermented foods are the way to go when you have problems with the health of your gut. Sauerkraut is super rich in probiotics that have great immune system boosting properties along with the ability to balance the bacteria in the lining of your stomach to keep it healthy and intact. To put it into perspective, 2 ounces of Sauerkraut can be more potent than a bottle of 100 probiotic supplement capsules.

3. Buttermilk (Traditional)

Not to be mistaken for the more mainstream type of buttermilk – traditional buttermilk is the only one that contains probiotics as it is the liquid leftover after they make butter, so it is very rich in probiotic dairy cultures that balance the good bacteria in your gut and promoting the microbiomes that aid digestion. Many tribes around the world, for ages, have used this method of staying healthy – they can’t all be wrong!

4. Miso

Even though it is technically not a food, but a paste used as a seasoning. Miso is exceptionally high in probiotics due to the fermentation of a mixture of different types of soybeans, barley, and brown rice. These and other similar grains contain the fungus, Aspergillus Oryzae. This dramatically increases digestive health by adding several essential microorganisms to your digestive tract, specifically. The fermentation process involved in the making of Miso is so beneficial because it produces enzymes like Amylase. Amylase is an enzyme that acts as a catalyst for the digestive process. It breaks down and turns carbohydrates and starches into sugar.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is commonly mistaken for a probiotic due to its probiotic aiding properties. The apples contain pectin; this promotes digestion not by balancing the bacteria, but by supporting the growth of new bacteria. These are prebiotics and can be just as important as probiotics. Diluting apple cider vinegar in water can be very helpful for acid reflux and heartburn.

6. Kefir

This fermented milk contains yeast and a bacterial starter of the Kefir grains. Although very similar to milk and yogurt, it is a more potent source of probiotics. Kefir grains contain up to 61 different strains of yeast and bacteria, making it way more diverse than a lot of other probiotic dairy products. These various strains of bacteria aids and supports the digestive system function and helps with symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, like bloating and discomfort. Kefir milk is also an excellent source of protein and calcium, like most dairy products.

7. Natto

Natto is a fermented soybean dish that is also actively considered a superfood due to its wide variety of different benefits to the body. It has the bacteria, Bacillus Subtilis, added to the fermentation process of the soybeans – this bacteria is an enzyme catalyst which can drastically reduce and treat symptoms of IBS. Natto also protects the gut from inflammation and supports the well-being of the gut’s microbiome. Also, it boosts the immune system and can massively reduce the risk of disease.

8. Tempeh

Typical of other fermented foods, Tempeh is essential for the proper functionality of your digestive system and the balancing of your gut’s microbiomes. Made from fermenting flaxseed, beans, oats, barley, three grain or soy. Tempeh made from fermented soybeans is much higher in probiotics. Many refer to this as “vegetarian bacon.”

9. Kimchi

Kimchi contains all of the beneficial bacteria that comes with fermenting foods. However, it also contains ingredients like garlic and ginger, which kills pathogenic bacteria in the gut. The high fiber content in Kimchi also ensures that your gut doesn’t go through things like constipation. It can also treat IBS and reduce the risk of stomach ulcers by keeping the digestive tract clean. Not to mention, it is a significant immune system boost for the whole body due to the wide variety of herbs and spices mixed into the fermentation process.

10. Kombucha

The making of this black tea entails the effervescent fermentation of a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). It strongly benefits the functionality of the digestive system, increases energy levels, and is also a potent way to detoxify your liver. Ironic since the fermentation process makes Kombucha slightly alcoholic.

Probiotics Are Healthy

As you can see, our bodies can barely function with probiotics. Unfortunately, due to the modern world we live in, most of our food is processed. This high processed diet means almost none of our day to day meals contain a sufficient amount of natural probiotics. There’s no presence of probiotics in processed food because the chemicals involved in preservation eliminate them. Fermentation of foods has been around for over 2000 years. They are a healthier alternative to preservatives as it supports probiotics instead of suppressing or removing them.