It may surprise you to learn that the health of your gut can have a significant impact on how healthy you feel. If your intestines are overgrown with bad bacteria, you can suffer not only from bloating, gas, and diarrhea, but you may also be more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections due to a weakened immune system. For this reason, many experts are recommending supplementing with probiotics to maintain a normal balance of healthy gut bacteria. While probiotic supplements can be an effective way of restoring intestinal balance, there are a variety of foods that contain probiotics which can help to maintain normal digestion and a healthy immune system. Here are some foods that contain probiotics:
Miso
Miso is a fermented soybean derivative with a distinctively salty taste that's considered to be a staple in Japanese cooking. This healthy, fermented product can be made into the familiar miso soup frequently served at Japanese restaurants, used to make salad dressings, or incorporated into a variety of other creative dishes. Not only does it have probiotic activity, it's also thought to have cancer preventative properties. You can often find dried miso soup packets at your local supermarket, but it's healthier to use fresh miso available at natural food markets and Oriental food stores.
Kefir
You'll probably be hearing more about the benefits of Kefir in the future as this drink grows in popularity. Kefir is a fermented milk drink that has the taste and consistency similar of a tangy yogurt. Renowned for its health properties, it's also a rich source of healthy bacteria that can help restore a healthy balance to your gut. While not widely available in general supermarkets, it can be found at natural food markets and health food stores. It's also not difficult to make your own at home. Recipes can be found on the internet.
Tempeh
Tempeh is another fermented soybean product that's often used as a meat substitute for vegetarians. It has a slightly nutty flavor and when prepared properly can take on the taste and texture of meat. It can be used in soups, sandwiches and wraps, salads, vegetarian chili, stews, and incorporated into a variety of other vegetarian recipes. Like tofu, tempeh is a fun food to experiment with due to its versatility. Besides being a source of probiotics, it's also high in protein.
Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the American food classics known to contain probiotics. It comes in a variety of flavors and is easy to find at your local supermarket. To ensure you're getting a yogurt with active bacterial cultures, check for a label that says “live and active cultures” which means the yogurt meets the standards of the National Yogurt Association.
These four choices aren't the only foods that contain probiotics. Other sources include sauerkraut, aged cheese, wine, and cottage cheese with active bacterial cultures. To get the benefits of these foods you would need to eat them on a daily basis which is why some people choose probiotic supplements. But there are definite health advantages to getting good bacteria from foods that contain probiotics since these food sources usually have other health promoting ingredients. Plus, a quality probiotic supplement can be quite expensive. It's nice to know you have the option of getting your good bacteria from the foods you eat rather than from a pill.
