The Ultimate Cheatsheet On Probiotic Foods
With everyone talking about all the terrific benefits of probiotics, you’re probably wondering if there are any probiotic foods that can give you some of those benefits (in addition to taking a probiotic supplement).
The answer is yes!
And we’re about to tell you which 12 probiotic foods are the best for this purpose.
But like most things in life, there is a catch.
You see, most foods today are extremely pasteurized and/or acidified.
And unfortunately, pasteurization and acidification kills most viable colonies of probiotics that are found in these foods.
So as you read down the list of the top 12 probiotic foods, keep in mind you’ll need to eat or consume these in a traditional manner.
Which means no pasteurization.
Many of these foods van be made at home, which is definitely the best way to guarantee you’re getting the probiotic dose you’re looking for.
Plus, they tend to taste better that way anyway!
So without further hesitation, here is our list of the top 12 foods that contain probiotics.
- Yogurt– This is the most popular food when people think about probiotics. As most of you know, yogurt is simply made by fermenting milk. In most cases, cow’s milk is used to make yogurt.
- Green Pickles– Unbeknownst to most, the regular old green pickle is a great source of probiotics. In most cases, pickles are pickled in brine or vinegar and left to ferment. To get the most benefit from a probiotic standpoint, make sure sea salt and water are used instead of brine or vinegar.
- Kefir– Kefir is a fermented milk drink popular in southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Similar to yogurt, it’s made with kefir grains and fermented milk.
- Raw Cheese (like Gouda)– Gouda specifically is a Dutch yellow cheese made from cow’s milk. It’s extremely popular around the world and is a good source of probiotics.
- Cottage Cheese– As most of you know, cottage cheese is curd product with a relatively mild flavor. As for probiotic benefit, be aware that most commercially available cottage cheese is made without probiotics. You’ll need to make it yourself or find a specialty store.
- Sauerkraut– This can be a good source of probiotics. It’s finely cut cabbage that has been fermented with lactic acid bacteria. I know that sounds gross, but many people around the world love it!
- Kombucha Tea– Gaining popularity in the US, Kombucha Tea is a effervescent fermented drink made with black tea. It’s full or nutrients and enzymes (as well as a number of different probiotic strains).
- Kimchi– Loaded with probiotics, kimchi is a spicy, fermented cabbage dish very popular in Korea.
- Buttermilk– Traditional buttermilk is the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream. This is the only version that has any probiotic benefit. Cultured buttermilk is too processed to be of any probiotic benefit.
- Miso Soup– Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning made by fermenting soybeans and sometimes other grains. When made correctly, miso can contain over 160 strains of probiotics! It’s commonly enjoyed in soup around the world.
- Lassi– This popular beverage in India is a combination of yogurt, spices and oftentimes fruit. the yogurt is what gibes it it’s probiotic kick.
- Tempeh– An Indonesian aged and fermented soybean food (that’s typically in the form of a patty), tempeh can be a great source of probiotics.
As you can see, there are actually quite a few good-tasting foods that can help supply your body with probiotics.
If you eat enough of these, and are certain you’re getting viable probiotic colonies in them, then you may not need additional supplementation.
However, to get the full benefits of probiotics, we’re guessing most people will need a supplement as well.
Because most foods are so processed and pasteurized nowadays, it’s very hard to get the amount of probiotics that have shown benefits in clinical studies (not to mention getting the right probiotic strains).
That said, it sure can’t hurt to eat these probiotic foods in moderation to give your body a little boost!
