When it comes to digestive health, the food that you include in your diet has a lot to do with how good you feel and how well your digestive system functions. Including probiotics is one of the most important things that you can do for digestive health, but there are some things that you should know ahead of time.
Once you learn what foods have probiotics, you can start to target your diet so that it centers around those foods. Below is a list of 15 foods that you might want to consider for optimum digestive health.
- Yogurt
Without a doubt, yogurt is one of the easiest ways to inject more probiotics into your diet. Of course, you should make sure that you are choosing the right yogurt in order to optimize your results. Look for something that is organic and includes natural probiotics.
This is a great option, not just for improved digestive health, but for overall health. It can help lower blood pressure, aid in weight loss and do a whole host of other things that will make you feel better and live healthier. Make sure that you choose a product that is organic for best results.
- Salted Gherkin Pickle
In addition to their great taste, these pickles can work wonders for your digestive tract. If you really want to increase your intake of natural probiotics, but you’re weary of some of the foods on this list, this is a great place to start. As usual, choose an organic product for best results.
- Kefir
This is a product that is a lot like yogurt, only there are no dairy products involved, making it perfect for people that are also lactose intolerant. Find out more about kefir health benefits here.
- Miso
This is a popular paste made from fermented soybeans and barley or rice malt, that is frequently found in Japanese culture. It is also a great source of probiotics and can be used in soup and other dishes.
- Tempeh
By Sakurai Midori – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
This is a soybean product that’s fermented and provides an excellent source probiotics.
- Cultured Vegetables
Cultured, or fermented, vegetables are wonderful for gut health and immunity, and are so easy to make. Two great examples are kimchi and sauerkraut.
- Brine-Cured Olives
To get the greatest advantage, make sure they are organic and that they donβt contain sodium benzoate.
- Raw Cheese
Raw cheese is made from raw, unpasteurized cow or goat’s milk and comes in many varieties. When purchasing, look for the words “organic,” “probiotic,” or “made from raw milk” on the label.
- Kvass
Kvass is a traditional Slavic and Baltic fermented beverage commonly made from rye bread, similar to kombucha. Itβs loaded with beneficial probiotics and enzymes which are said to purify the blood, boost energy, and improve liver function.
- Natto
This is a traditional Japanese dish made from soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis var. natto and is one of the best sources of probiotics.
- Coconut Kefir
Coconut milk kefir is a delicious and dairy-free probiotic-rich drink made by fermenting coconut milk with milk kefir grains, that can can help you regain vitality, and feel younger and stronger.
- Kombucha
Kombucha is made by fermenting green or black tea with sugar until a colony of probiotic bacteria and yeast forms.
- Sourdough Bread
During the sourdough fermenting process, lactobacillus cultures are introduced that create a uniquely probiotic food full of bacteria that benefits your gut.
15) Dark Chocolate
Although eating probiotic foods helps, taking a complete probiotic can drastically improve your results. At the same time, it is important to know what foods are naturally probiotic, so that you can eat as healthy as possible. You might think that natural probiotics are hard to come by, but the truth is, there are a lot of foods that have probiotic qualities.
According to researchers, friendly-gut bacteria, residing towards the end of the intestinal tract, break down and ferment the compounds in dark chocolate making it extra good for you. This process creates anti-inflammatory effects, benefiting overall health.
There you have it. If you really want to enjoy improved digestive health, you can start exploring some of these foods that can help you get additional probiotics into your diet, naturally. At the same time, you can begin supplementing with probiotics in order to maximize your benefits.
This can help you if you have digestive issues or if you just want to live the healthiest life possible. Either way, you know that you are doing everything possible to ensure continued good health for years to come.
Who knows, you just might find a new favorite food along the way. One thing is certain, it can’t hurt to try something new every once in awhile, especially if it can help improve your overall health. You might have been missing out on something great all this time.
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