Probiotics are living organisms in your gut that help keep it healthy. In recent years, gut health has been linked to a few important potential health benefits like improved immunity, heart health and mood.¹ 

If you’re wanting to boost the bacterial profile of your gut, there are a few different supplements you can take. These usually include a range of different strains of probiotics. However, there are also a number of food sources that contain probiotics and including probiotic rich foods in your diet will help keep your gut healthy. 

What probiotics are there? 

Probiotics are a type of healthy bacteria. Although bacteria are typically thought of something we should avoid, probiotics are the good type, they help maintain a healthy bacterial profile in your gut. 

Whilst there are a few different strands of bacteria, some of the most common are: 

• Bifidobacteriume 
• Lactobacillus 
• Saccharomyces boulardii, which is a type of yeast 

Foods most likely to contain probiotics are those that have been through a fermentation process. A lot of probiotics will be destroyed in the food manufacturing process so most probiotic rich foods will be found in the fridge. 

1. Yoghurt

A good source of protein and calcium, yogurt is made from fermented milk and contains probiotics to help keep the balance of your gut bacteria. 

The main strains of probiotic in yogurt are lactic acid bacteria such as Streptococcus and Lactoballicus. Consumption of these probiotics has been linked to improving lactose intolerance and constipation.

2. Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea which has been reported to have been in Northeast China since 220BC.³ It’s traditionally produced by fermenting black tea but green tea is also used. The most prominent bacterial strains in Kombucha are Komagataeibacter, Lyngbya, Gluconobacter, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. It also contains Candida and Zygosaccharomyces yeasts.

Whilst there have been some animal studies reinforcing the positive effects of Kombucha, there is currently a lack of evidence of the impact of Kombucha on human gut health.

3. Kefir

Kefir is a fermented drink made from cow’s or goat’s milk. It has been associated with a number of health benefits including gastrointestinal immunity, wound healing and the reduction of cholesterol.⁴ 

The most commonly found bacteria in kefir are Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Leuconostoc. Kefir also contains a large amount of yeast populations such as Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, and Candida. 

4. Kimchi 

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish typically made up of fermented vegetables such as cabbage and radish. It has similar health benefits to yoghurt and other dairy probiotic foods. 

With kimchi being made up predominantly of cruciferous vegetables and other functional health foods like garlic and ginger it can definitely be considered a healthy addition to your diet. The main probiotics in kimchi are lactic acid bacteria. Kimchi has been associated with a few different health benefits, including immune promotion and skin health.

5. Miso  

Miso is a traditional Japanese paste made from fermented soybean. Miso is usually used in soup and the reported health benefits include improved immunity and digestion.

Miso has been shown to contain Lactococcus and Bacillus probiotic species. Miso is also rich in minerals and various vitamins such as B vitamins, E, K and folic acid.

6. Tempeh 

The Japanese product tempeh is another probiotic food, made from fermented soy beans. The protein from the soybeans means tempeh can be a good meat alternative for vegetarians and vegans and is also a good source healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. 

Consumption of tempeh has been shown to increase levels of Bifidobacterium and Escherichia coli in the gut.

7. Sauerkraut  

Sauerkraut is made up of fermented cabbage and is full of healthy vitamins such as A, B, C and K.  

The main probiotic species in sauerkraut are L. mesenteroides, L. plantarum, and L. brevis.⁷ Sauerkraut also contains a large amount of histamine so those who suffer from allergies or hayfever should be cautious

Take Home Message 

Probiotics are important for maintaining a healthy gut which has numerous positive effects on overall health. Although you can get probiotics as a supplement for quick and easy access, including a wide range of probiotic rich foods in your diet will help keep your gut and overall health in check. 

It might be worth including a few probiotic rich foods alongside a supplement to keep your gut healthy.

By Liam Agnew, Sport and Performance Nutritionist – Myprotein.com

12 June 2021