All probiotics have the same goal- they increase the friendly flora, or "good bacteria" in your gut.
With a sufficient amount of healthy bacteria in your gut, infections are fought off and your digestive system thrives.
Unfortunately, the modern diet in North America is not built to support a healthy digestive system- in fact, quite the opposite. Many diets now are heavy in sugars, simple carbs, pesticides from our fruits & vegetables, and artificial additives, which deteriorate healthy bacteria; add on over the counter medications, or worse, antibiotics, and your gut health could be seriously suffering.
To up your intake of probiotics, you have a couple options.
The first is to start taking a probiotic supplement. These usually come in capsule form, and many of the probiotics on the market are sourced from dairy, but there are vegan options as well! If you want the ease of a supplement but hate taking pills, you can also open these capsules up and mix them in a smoothie or with yogurt (dairy or otherwise)- the taste is nearly unnoticeable.
Your second option is to consume your probiotics through the food you eat. There's lots of fun, tasty foods that are supportive to your gut health. Incorporating probiotic & prebiotic foods in to your diet can be so satisfying, and will leave you feeling great after your meal. In general, anything fermented will be high in probiotics.
1) Kombucha:
A tasty, fermented tea drink kind of comparable to a hippie soda pop. Kombucha has become quite popular, giving so many different flavours and brands to choose from. You can also make your own kombucha at home, using scoby. My personal favourite: Rise Hibiscus & Rosehips
2) Sauerkraut & Kimchi:
These are both fermented cabbages, but kimchi is spicy and has a different brine. Both can be so tasty and add a unique flavour to a more mild dish- I've personally become obsessed with kimchi pasta salad.
3) Tempeh:
Like tofu, but better. Tempeh is a fermented soy product with a bit of a nutty flavour. You can even get "bacon" or "chick'n" tempeh, making it easy to incorporate in to a normally meat-inclusive meal.
4) Kefir:
A dairy drink, very similar to yogurt, but more tart as it has more probiotic cultures. They have plain options, as well as different flavours that are sweetened (again, similar to yogurt). Buying it plain and adding it to a fruit smoothie will cut down on any added sugars, but if you're a sucker for convenience after rolling out of bed 30 minutes late (like me) it's also good solo!
5) Acidophilus:
A probiotic supplement often made from goat's milk, and commonly in capsule form. If you're not opposed to dairy, this is a great option for ease & convenience. My go-to brand for this product is Natural Factors.
6) Probioactive (Rainbow Light):
A completely plant-based probiotic capsule with added herbs to aid in digestion, such as ginger, fennel, turmeric, and peppermint. Great convenient option for those that are vegan or don't tolerate dairy!
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