Probiotic-Rich Foods other than Yoghurt

Sharon Moore September 16, 2015

Probiotics are good for you. And it’s not a hype. More and more studies attest to the amazing things these good bacteria can do not just to our gut but also to our brain. And talking about probiotics, you might think that yoghurt is only the food to eat. Well, you’re wrong. There are many other good source of probiotics. So the next time you feel bored with your plain yoghurt, here are some more delicious options to try.

Aged Cheese

Aged cheese isn’t just more flavourful, it is healthier too! The same good bacteria and fungi that give cheese its amazing flavour and long shelf life also gives microbial diversity to your diet.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is basically shredded cabbage fermented in brine (salt water). This popular snack is packed with Lactobacillus plantarum - a powerful probiotic that is known to help prevent the occurrence of cancer and lower cholesterol.

Kefir

Kefir is a great substitute to milk. It tastes more like yoghurt, but contains a more diverse range of good bacteria. Kefir typically has least 10 species of probiotics while yoghurt contains about four. They include the probiotic which helps protect against gastrointestinal distress and other digestive disorders.

Kimchi

This popular Korean dish is made from a variety of veggies and seasonings, including ginger, cabbage, chilies, and fish sauce. The mixture is then fermented for a long time and this process makes kimchi a healthy and really flavourful food. It is considered the best probiotic food by many health experts.

Pickles

Pickles make a great snack for both the young and old as they can be loaded with lots of probiotics. But be careful with the product you choose. Most jarred pickles are made with white vinegar, which gives them their popular sour-sweet taste by don’t have friendly microbes. Opt for naturally fermented pickles as they contain ‘live cultures’ that promote health in so many ways.

Miso

Miso is a seasoning paste made from fermented soybeans. Some studies suggest that this fermented product may offer protection against certain types of cancer, such as breast, colon, liver and lung cancer. The longer the soybeans have been fermented, the more probiotics they contain and the healthier they become!

Dark Chocolate

Yes, dark chocolate could contain probiotics. Opt for dark chocolates as they are also packed with amazing antioxidants.

Kombucha

This slightly sweet and fizzy liquid that results when sweet black tea is fermented with a mushroom-like colony of bacteria. A research published in the Pharmaceutical Biology journal found that kombucha lowered LDL cholesterol and improved liver and kidney function.

See? When it comes to probiotics, there are more choices than yoghurt. And this means there’s no reason not to fill our gut with these friendly microbes that don’t just boost our digestive health, but also our overall well-being.