List of probiotic foods for healthy Digestive System

Your intestinal tract supports hundreds of species of friendly bacteria. These helpful bacteria play an important role in digestion, absorption of nutrients, immunity and disease prevention. Probiotic foods contain living organisms similar to the bacteria alive in your gut. Producers and natural-health practitioners claim these foods boost immunity, energy levels and general well-being. The National Institutes of Health repo

rt that probiotics may be effective for preventing or treating conditions such as diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, lung infections, vaginal infections and eczema. Consult your doctor before adding probiotic foods to your diet or u

sing them to self-treat any condition.

Dairy Products

Yogurt is the most widely available probiotic food. To make sure your yogurt contains live bacteria, purchase only those products that clearly state the presence of live and active cultures. Other probiotic dairy products include yogurt drinks such as kefir, Stonyfield Farms bottled smoothies and certain brands of butter and sour cream, which are labeled "cultured." If you do not eat dairy, look for vegan substitutes containing live cultures. These include products made from soy, rice or coconut milk.

Pickled Vegetables

Raw kim chi, a spicy fermented-vegetable condiment indispensable to Korean cuisine, is a rich source of live bacteria. Look also for raw sauerkraut or pickled beets, carrots or other vegetables. To ensure the product contains live bacteria, choose products that have not been pasteurized; generally, a product that is labeled raw has not been pasteurized. If you are unsure about a product, contact the manufacturer. You can also make your own pickled or fermented vegetables.

Kombucha

For a quick probiotic boost, try kombucha, a fermented health drink made from tea, sugar and live cultures. Kombucha is widely available in health-food stores and urban grocery stores. These drinks, which can taste a little like vinegar water, are low in calories and naturally bubbly.

Hummus

Wildwood Organics makes a probiotic hummus available in Indian, Cayenne and Raspberry Chipotle. Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip and sandwich spread made from chickpeas and a sesame-seed paste called tahini.

Nutrition Bars

Nutrition bars increasingly contain green and living foods in addition to vitamins and minerals. Look for bacteria-rich energy bars from Macro Green, Nature's Plus and other manufacturers of health foods. These products are available at natural markets and online.

Miso

Miso, a fermented bean or rice paste popular in Japan, is rich in probiotics. Use miso to flavor soups, stew, rice or pasta. Do not cook with it, however, or you will kill the beneficial bacteria; add it at the end instead. You can also use miso as a condiment for burgers and sandwiches.

Salad Dressing

Zukay Live Foods has a line of raw, probiotic salad dressings. Flavors include cucumber mint, basil with onion and tomato Provencal. The company also makes probiotic salsa and relish as well as several bacteria-rich drinks.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/266826-list-of-probiotic-foods/#ixzz1dsVXCJe7