Posted by Dr. Della Parker     on October 27, 2017

When you hear the word bacteria do you think of something bad, dangerous, and unhealthy? Most people do, but did you know there is good bacteria too? Yep, good bacteria! The good bacteria that live in your digestive tract are called probiotics, there are 10 times more probiotics in your gut than cells in your entire body. Probiotics are very important in supporting the body’s ability to fight infections and to absorb nutrients. Good bacteria help in protecting the body from pathogens, toxins, and even cancer. Probiotics assist in the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Healthy bowel movements, bile creation, gastric secretion, and immune function are all supported by having a healthy number of good bacteria or probiotics in your gut (approximately 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria). Learn which food sources to add to your shopping list to naturally increase your body’s probiotics for a healthier gut.

Top 5 Probiotic Foods List

If you want to start consuming probiotic-rich foods, here is a list of the most beneficial probiotic foods:

1. Sauerkraut

Made from fermented cabbage and other vegetables, sauerkraut is not diverse in probiotics but is high in organic acids (what gives food its sour taste) that support the growth of good bacteria. Sauerkraut is extremely popular in Germany today.

Sauerkraut is high in vitamin C and digestive enzymes. It’s also a good source of natural lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacillus. Sauerkraut juice has been studied to benefit digestive issues like leaky gut, diarrhea and constipation, and is also effective at helping you kick a cold fast.

2. Kimchi

Kimchi is a cousin to sauerkraut and is the Korean take on cultured veggies.

It’s created by mixing a main ingredient, such as Chinese cabbage, with a number of other foods and spices, like red pepper flakes, radishes, carrots, garlic, ginger, onion, sea salt and fish sauce. The mixture is then left aside to ferment for three to 14 days.

3. Coconut Kefir

Made by fermenting the juice of young coconuts with kefir grains, this dairy-free option for kefir has some of the same probiotics as traditional dairy kefir but is typically not as high in probiotics. Still, it has several strains that are great for your health.

Coconut kefir has a great flavor, and you can add a bit of stevia, water and lime juice to it to make a great-tasting drink.

4. Miso

Miso is one of the mainstays of traditional Japanese medicine and is commonly used in macrobiotic cooking as a digestive regulator. Miso has been a staple in Chinese and Japanese diets dating back approximately 2,500 years.

Today, most of the Japanese population begins the day with a warm bowl of miso soup believed to stimulate the digestive system and energize the body.

Made from fermented soybeans, rice or barley, adding a tablespoon of miso to some hot water makes an excellent, quick, probiotic-rich soup.

The fermentation process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of years to complete, and the end result is a red, white or dark brown paste with a buttery texture.

Miso soup is famous throughout the world, and it’s very easy to prepare. Simply dissolve a tablespoonful of miso in a pot of water filled with seaweed and other ingredients of your choice.

5. Kombucha

Kombucha is an effervescent fermentation of black tea that’s started by using a SCOBY, also known as a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. Kombucha has been around for over 2,000 years and was thought to originate in 212 B.C. in the Far East. It later surfaced in Japan and then spread to Russia.

Many claims have been made about kombucha, but its primarily health benefits include digestive support, increased energy and liver detoxification.

Read more here on the health benefits of kombucha.

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At Stellar Health and Wellness, we are moms and know how much work moms do. If you are a mom and want to focus on your wellness. Dr. Della treats all types of conditions but has a special interest in digestive problems, chronic fatigue, and thyroid dysfunction. Contact Dr. Della Parker for an appointment today by calling 503-344-6631.

SRC: Click to learn even more about Probiotics.