Eat These Probiotic Foods For A Healthy Gut, According To Doctors

by John Griffith
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While common sense may teach you that bacteria is something you should avoid, that’s not exactly true. There is both good and bad bacteria in the world. Probiotics are a form of good bacteria. This bacterium is found already in our body, specifically our guts. The gut is one of the most important organs in our body. It helps with absorbing all the nutrients from our food, keeping a stable metabolism, having a strong immune system and more. The gut does wonders for us, that’s why we have to make sure we are keeping it nice and healthy. This is where probiotics can help. So, let’s see what probiotic foods we should add more of in our diets.

We have to make sure we are keeping our gut nice and healthy

illustration of a healthy intestine inside view filled with veggies and fruits

Eat These Probiotic Foods

Probiotics are amazing. They help aid with digestion, to lower cholesterol, to strengthen your immune system, protect you against allergies and even help in cancer prevention. Wow! There are so many things probiotics are good for. That’s why it’s significant to have plenty of them in our diet. You don’t need fancy pills to help get them, all you need to do is sneak in more of these probiotic foods.

Probiotics help aid with digestion and more

woman in jeans and white crop top tocuhing her stomach

Fermented Cabbage

Fermented foods in general are high in probiotics. While this is not true for all foods – such as beer and chocolate, it definitely is for fermented cabbage in any form. You can enjoy kimchi which has both fermented cabbage and radishes or sauerkraut. Such dishes are a great source of fibers and bifidobacteria which is helpful to your gut. Not only that but these types of food are also a great prophylactic against colorectal cancer.

Kimchi is delicious and spicy

person with blue apron holding kimchi in a bowl

Nuts

Nuts are great for many things. No only are they a great snack choice, they are also very beneficial to the gut. Thanks to their high contents of nutrients, nuts are indispensable for our body’s microflora. So, grab a handful throughout the day.

There are plenty of nuts to choose from 

probiotic foods different types of nuts walnut pistachio hazelnut

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits also hold many benefits for our gut. However, some may be more beneficial than others. It’s best to stray away from dried fruits that are high in sugar content, as this will harm your system more than help. Reach out for prunes. They are high in both bifidobacteria and fiber. Munch on a few prunes throughout the day.

Not only grandparents eat prunes

dried black prunes in a wooden bowl copy

Yogurt

Yogurt, alongside kefir, are one of the best probiotic foods out there. They are like balm for your insides. Fun fact: Kefir actually comes from the Turkish word “keyif” which translates to “feeling good after eating”. Yogurt and kefir are not only great for providing your gut with good bacteria, they also help strengthen your bones.

Yogurt is refreshing and yummy

yogurt bowl with strawberries and blueberries

Fruits and Vegetables

This will not come as a surprise, but having plenty of fruits and veggies in your diet can do wonders for your gut. After all, they are one of your five a day. Make sure to include plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables in your meals. Especially cabbage, carrots, and raspberries. If you don’t have access to such foods, try to compensate the lack of fiber in your diet with bran for example. However, nothing really can compensate the lack of colorful vegetable and fruits.

Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet 

healthy gut platos with fruits and vegetables

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented drink made most often with green or black tea. This slightly fizzy drink  has a ton of friendly bacteria and yeast that do wonders for the gut. Kombucha originated from Asia, but can be found all over the world nowadays. It’s thought to have many health benefits.

You can make your own kombucha at home 

probiotic drinks kombucha tea in a big glass jar

Pickles

A favorite to many. Who knew eating pickles can have so many benefits. Pickles are preserved in a mix of water and salt. Naturally fermenting. Pickles are a great source of good bacteria for the digestive track. Not only that but they are also a great source of vitamin K. However, pickles that are preserved with vinegar do not have any live probiotics.

Eat pickles that are preserved with only water and salt 

person fermenting their own jar of pickles

Natto

Just like miso or tempeh, Natto is a fermented soybean product. This treat has something called a bacterial strain (bacillus subtilis). Natto is not only great for the gut, but it is also high in protein and rich in vitamin K. This makes it a good choice if you want stronger bones and a healthier heart.

Natto is made from soybeans 

probiotics in food natto soy beans in a bowl with chopsticks

These were the best probiotic foods you can add to your diet to ensure a healthier and happier gut. Having a gut that has plenty of probiotic foods to keep in on track is crucial to living a healthy life. After all, our gut has a lot of important functions. We hope you found this article helpful! Now go enjoy some yummy probiotic foods.

What’s your favorite probiotic food?

bes probiotic foods bowl of yogurt with fresh berries and nuts

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.