Probiotics appear to be prevalent these days. You find probiotics in everything from yoghurt to sauerkraut and from your morning fruit smoothie to your evening glass of red wine. However, as common as they seem, most people don’t think twice about their health benefits or how balanced their diet is.

Furthermore, we will try to bring attention to the topic of probiotics through an introduction on what precisely a probiotic is and what they do for you, and how the gut is related to your health. We’ll also cover a brief history of the term and then brought on some info about specific types used today – dairy-derived or plant-based products that are changing our perceptions of food.

What Is Probiotics?

The word “probiotic” is a relatively new concept that means “for life.” Simply put, probiotics are living organisms that have a beneficial effect on the host and help maintain optimal health. You can find them in yoghurt, kimchi, and other fermented foods. Still, as many people turn to trendy probiotic supplements daily for “health benefits,” it’s important to know what they do.

Furthermore, there are a few different types of probiotics, including yoghurt-based and pill-based. Yoghurt-based probiotics are good for balancing levels of healthy bacteria in the gut, while pill-based probiotics must be swallowed whole so they have time to reach your intestines.

There are many benefits of taking probiotic products, including boosting the immune system and increasing stomach acid production, which helps digest food more effectively. Read on for some special considerations you should keep in mind before starting any regimen with probiotic products and warnings about misleading products containing enough live cultures.

Different Types Of Probiotic Products

Many products contain probiotics, which some people may not know or have forgotten that it has probiotics. Shockingly, much of it is common in our home pantry. Here are some of the products that contain probiotics.

Yoghurt

It is not new, and yoghurt is always known to the public as a product with probiotics. It is an excellent source of probiotics and protein, which helps promote good digestion. It also has other vitamins and minerals and bioactive components like polyphenols that help boost your immune system. 

Furthermore, yoghurt can be consumed with fruit or as a meal in itself; it is low in fat and calories. Also, it’s a healthy option for people trying to lose weight or maintain their body weight while still being nutritious with proteins and calcium B12, and vitamin D.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut contains a lot of probiotics, B vitamins, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It is also a good source of fibre, iron, magnesium, and calcium. It’s is made by fermenting cabbage with salt and various bacteria or yeasts (Lactobacillus Plantarum). Fermentation turns sugars into alcohols or organic acids. These new substances support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the human digestive tract.

Kimchi

Kimchi has been gaining a lot of attention in the market. However, did you know that it contains probiotics? These beneficial bacteria help to promote digestion and, thus, a robust immune system. To celebrate the beautiful benefits of kimchi, here are some probiotic products to try!

As we all know, probiotics are live microorganisms that work with our digestive tracts by balancing good bacteria in our bodies. That is why it can be essential to include Prebiotic foods in your diet, such as kimchi because they provide food that nourishes those helpful gut-friendly microbes.

Kefir Milk

It can be hard to keep up with the new probiotics market, as new strains emerge constantly. Kefir Milk has probiotic properties, which lend itself well to a natural bone broth. It is a fermented dairy drink made from cow or goat’s milk. It is rich in lactobacillus bacteria and yeast, which produces lactic acid during fermentation. It gives kefir its unique tangy flavour and most of its probiotic benefits. It also contains beneficial yeasts such as Bifidus and saccharomyces cerevisiae that aid digestion and immunity.

Cheese

Cheese has probiotics. That’s right, and cheese is a secret weapon in the battle against stomach flu and gastroenteritis. It seems counterintuitive that eating cheese would help your gut. Soft cheeses have the perfect texture for delivering probiotics to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

Furthermore, the cheese’s pH influences probiotic’s capacity to survive and flourish in the intestines. As a result, soft cheese is expected to transfer intact bacteria to the GI system better than yoghurt. Soft cheeses like Cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss have a good amount of probiotics. Gouda is the soft cheese with the most probiotics of all the cheeses.

Tempeh

Tempeh is a fermented soybean-based probiotic dish from Indonesia. It is produced by a natural culturing and fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form. Tempeh is made to impart a desirable flavour while providing the body with its unique type of bacteria. Bifidobacterium, a probiotic microbe found in soy tempeh, is abundant.

Benefits Of Probiotics

Probiotics have health benefits that are not well-known but are fantastic! Many probiotic products can do wonders for your body. Here is a look into how it works and what it does.

Probiotics, sometimes called “good bacteria,” is one of the current popular topics in health and wellness. In today’s world of antibiotics, processed food, and sterile environments, more people than ever before suffer from digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, colitis, or even just a case of diarrhoea. The introduction of probiotic supplements aids in improving the digestive tract and alleviating many symptoms.

Also, probiotics have health benefits that improve overall health and the digestive system. First, probiotics are great for people who have a hard time digesting food. Probiotics work by staying in the gut and breaking down the harmful bacteria that cause stomach discomfort or pain.

In addition to these advantages, probiotics have anti-inflammatory qualities that can aid with a lot of diseases, including;

• skin diseases, including eczema and dermatitis
• preventing milk allergies in children (due to the immune response from mother’s milk)
• improving immune functions
• reducing chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms
• preventing cancer cells from spreading (due to its ability to take on free radicals)
• improving IBS symptoms, containing and easing PMS symptoms, among others.

Takeaway

Probiotics are indeed nutritious and healthy. However, if you’re thinking about adding probiotics to your diet, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about it. Many doctors may advise you to try them to see if they can assist with your overall health. It’s vital to keep in mind that not all probiotics are created equal and have the same effects.