The Best Probiotic Foods

Milk is essential to health but there are people who digest milk with some difficulties because they don’t have the good microorganisms to make their system tolerant of the milk’s lactose content. It is the good bacteria in probiotic foods called lactobacillus acidophilus that aids in better digestion of food. The absence of good bacteria in the digestive system can lead all kinds of health problems.

Probiotic foods are those that are allowed to go through an acid fermentation process before these are made available for human consumption. The process may be done totally or in part. Yogurt is the best probiotic food but there are other good sources of probiotics.

• Kefir. Like yogurt, kefir is rich in probiotics since it goes through the same fermentation process and combines animal milk and grains. It is mostly goat milk that is used for preparing kefir. Apart from the good bactria lactobacilli, kefir has also been found to contain anti-oxidants that are good for the heart. Kefir is best when prepared through an organic process.

• Sauerkraut. This probiotic food is ubiquitous in Germany where it originated. Sauerkraut is based on cabbage and other vegetables with similar texture. After it is cultured, the food preparation becomes enriched not only with probiotics but also with vitamins A, B, E and C such that people who eat them on a regular basis claim that sauerkraut also helps them fight some of the symptoms of certain allergies.

• Chocolate. This is also a priobiotic food if it is the rich and dark-colored one. It is believed that dark chocolates have more probiotic contents than dairy products. However, it is beneficial only in terms of lactose tolerance when not eaten to excess.

• Microalgae. Edible seaweeds are the best form of microalgae that contains probiotics. Other sources are plants harvested from the ocean such as chorella and spirulina. Apart from lactobacilli, microalgae foods are also good sources of energy.

• Miso. This is a favorite Japanese food that is also preferred for its medicinal properties. It is prepared from grain or beans and is usually used as main flavoring for soup. As a probiotic food, miso works to regulate our digestive system. Miso is packed with nutrition it also helps neutralize carcinogens before they can spread.

• Tempeh. This is exclusively made from soy beans and similarly Asian in origin. It is often used as a meat substitute, the same purpose of tofu. Vegetarians like to bake or sautée the tempeh and eat it as their alternative source of protein that meat provides.

• Kimchi. This is Korea’s answer to the sauerkraut of Germany. Also made from cabbage, kimchi is however fermented to give it a sour and very spicy quality. If you like your food hot, kimchi is among the best probiotic foods because it is also a source of other essential nutrients such as iron, calcium and vitamins A, B1 and B2.

• Kombucha. This one is unique because it is prepared neither dairy nor grain but tea leaves. Thus, you drink rather than eat it. This tea becomes a probiotic agent when it is fermented. Those who drink kombucha swear that it not only prevents digestive problems but also helps them lose weight.

The Best Probiotic Foods