Get Probiotics in Your Diet!

There are about 400 kinds of probiotic bacteria inside the human digestive tract. The biggest probiotic group in the intestine is the LAB or Lactose Acid Bacteria of which the Lactobacillus Acidophilus are also found in yogurt. There are several sources of probiotics. They are usually being added to the food and drinks while being processed. When people think of probiotics, the things that come into their mind are usually yogurt and fermented dairy products. Yogurt has probiotics that contain Bifidobacterium animalis that can assist in digestion. Another probiotic containing drink similar to yogurt is kefir. Kefir is a smooth dairy drink which contains probiotics called Lactobacillus causcasus which is not commonly found in yogurt. Acidophilus milk contains probiotic Lactobacillus acidphilus. Buttermilk is cultured with Streptococcus lactis. There are certain cheese products such as aged cheese and blue cheese which contain probiotics. Kraft's Live Active Cheddar Cheese Sticks contain Bifidobacterium lactis. Selected Amish Yogurt cheese contain probiotic live cultures Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifid bacterium. When choosing cheese products, go for those labels with terms "active or live cultures" and "probiotics" on their packaging. There are also non-dairy fermented products which contain probiotics. They contain Lactobacillus planatarum, Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Tempeh, Shoyu (contains wheat) and Tamari are fermented soybean products found in grocery stores. Kimchi is a known Korean delicacy that uses spicy cabage. Sauerkraut may contain fermented cabbage, however, not all contain probiotics. When choosing these kind of products, carefully check the labels and make sure that they have terms such as "active cultures". There are processed food such as breakfast cereals, energy bars, and smoothies that may contain probiotics. On the other hand, there are also green and real food that contain probiotics such as chlorella, spirulina, and wheat grass. The most important thing to consider is that the food must contain enough amount of effective probiotics. When looking for food containing probiotics, you have to check the full name of the probiotics which includes the genus, species and the strain. You may also research on the company of those that sell probiotic containing products in order to know more about the product (the health benefits, the amount of probiotics per serving, the suggested portion to consume in order to maximize the health benefits). If you are thinking about including probiotics in your everyday diet, it is advisable to consult your doctor first.