Top 7 Foods with Probiotics

Do you want to get the most nutritional value out of the foods you eat? Probiotics are associated with healthy digestion and can be found in a lot of foods. Here's a list of top foods that offer probiotics.

1. Sauerkraut - Sauerkraut is made from fermented cabbage and other vegetables. Sauerkraut has an abundance of organic acids, in addition to its probiotic qualities it supports growth of good bacteria and is filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
2. Miso - Miso is a Japanese seasoning made from soybeans that's packed with probiotics, protein, and nutrients. Miso also helps to promote intestinal health.
3. Plain Yogurt - Yogurt ranks at the top of probiotic foods. Healthy bacteria that's added to yogurts include lactobacillus bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophilus, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus casei and bifidus.
1. Cheese - Cheese, whether it come from sheep's milk, goat's milk, or cow's milk is high in probiotics like thermophilus, bifidus, bulgaricus, and acidophilus. If you want to receive the best form of probiotics it's recommended that you buy the cheese raw or unpasteurized.
2. Kombucha - Kombucha is fermented with bacteria and yeast, it's a probiotic beverage. Behind yogurt, this is quickly becoming one of the most popular sources of probiotics in America. 
3. Kimchi - Kimchi is exceptionally high in enzymes and assists digestion. Kimchi contains large amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
4. Buttermilk - Buttermilk is incredibly healthy and is low in fat and calories. It's packed with vitamin B12, riboflavin, calcium, potassium, and protein. As a bonus, buttermilk tastes great, and can be used to replace many liquid-based items such as regular milk, water, and butter in recipes. This will add even more probiotics to your meals. 

Keep in mind, you would need to eat a very large amount of these foods to completely balance your gut bacteria. Another simple option is to use a solid all-natural probiotic supplement with a large variety of strains and a solid prebiotic fiber.

10 ways you're hurting your gut bacteria

Our modern Western society has adopted unhealthy activities and lifestyles that affect our microbes in a variety of ways. Most are difficult –– if not impossible–– to avoid, but it's critical to spread awareness if we want to protect our micro biome. 

1. Sweets. Processed sugars can feed potentially unhealthy bacteria
2. Wine and beer. Alcohol consumption can alter your microbial balance.1
3. Poor sleep. This can lead to subtle changes in your microbial makeup.2
4. Antibiotics. These kill both good and bad bacteria.
5. Not enough fiber. It serves as food for helpful microbes. 
6. Living in the city. Pollution can affect the number of good bacteria.3
7. Water containing chlorine. Chlorine can kill both good and bad bacteria.
8. Foods with artificial coloring. These are antibacterial and antifungal.
9. Antibacterial soaps. Any antibacterial products can destroy healthy microbes.
10. NSAID pain relievers. They disrupt digestive flora and intestinal mucus.4