If you can’t afford probiotics on a regular basis, or you would like to include to your existing course of probiotic supplements, there are manygood probiotic foods that can help to repopulate your intestine. Probiotics supplements can be taken at the same time and are a great addition to any diet.
These foods include kefir, yogurt, and fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut. Many people do not like it when they first experience it, but you are sure to find at least one to enjoy. These fermented foods are packed full of nutritional goodness. For many traditional cultures probiotics form the basis of the diets and are still widely eaten around the world today.
Here are some probiotic foods that you can add to your diet:
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Kombucha
- Kvass
- Pickles
- Olives
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Eating probiotic foods is one of the simplest ways to boost your immune system, improve your digestion, and fight off gut-based pathogens.
How do Probiotic food help in maintaining a healthy digestive system?
Foods with probiotics can help to keep a healthy intestinal microbiota, which is the microbe population in your digestive system. It is made up of a cluster of bacteria. Scientists have found lots of evidence that connects certain types of probiotics with boosting immune functions and improving overall gut health.
But only supplements and foods that contain live, active cultures actually add these favorable bacteria to the digestive tract. And as we’ve discussed, some of the foods marketed as probiotic foods may not actually probiotics. It can be difficult for beverages and foods to maintain consistent levels of live active bacteria because of processing or storage requirements.
Why are Probiotic supplements more Beneficial?
If you’re trying to add more probiotics to your diet, you may find probiotic supplements offer unique benefits over foods with probiotics.
First, supplements may be a good option if you’re concerned about the calories associated with getting probiotics from food. Second, some probiotic supplements may be more convenient to take since they do not require refrigeration like foods with live cultures often do. Third, for some people taking supplements make getting the required dosage easier to take by putting it in pill form. For example, in order to receive the benefits of Bifido bacterium, the patented strain found in Align only one capsule a day is needed and you can take it any time of day.
Finally, probiotic supplements may offer different bacterial strains than probiotic foods. Because the strain of bacteria determines the health benefit, it’s important to know it when choosing the right probiotic food or supplement. Quality probiotic food or supplement will be clearly labeled with the strains they contain.
