People are often surprised to hear they have a thriving community of bacteria living in their digestive tracts. These bacteria can either help or hinder health, depending on the conditions in your gut. The foods you eat can have a huge impact on the types of bacteria you can maintain in your digestive tract. That’s why it’s important to eat foods that support and replenish the friendly bacteria while making your insides less hospitable to harmful bacteria.
In addition to eating healthy foods, it’s also beneficial to consume products that contain beneficial bacteria. These types of foods are often referred to as probiotic foods. They include kombucha, kimchi, yogurt, tempeh, sauerkraut and miso. For optimal gut health, there are certain types of probiotics you want to make sure you’re getting. This guide will go over those probiotic types and how to find them.
Why You Need Friendly Bacteria
Your gut microbiome (the combination of various organisms that live in your digestive tract) is vital to your overall health. In addition to helping you absorb nutrients from the foods you eat, your microbiome also plays other important roles. Research shows that it may:
- Play a big role in weight management
- Benefit heart health by promoting “good” cholesterol
- Boost brain health by managing some of the messages that are sent to the brain
- Lower the risk of diabetes by helping the body manage blood sugar
- Improve gut health and minimize cramps, bloating and other common issues associated with common digestive tract issues
These are just a few of the top reasons you need friendly bacteria in your gut. Eating healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, healthy fats and whole grains can help feed beneficial bacteria. Harmful bacteria tend to prefer nutrient-poor foods such as sugary treats, highly processed foods and refined flour. That’s why it’s so important to eat a nutritious diet if you want to ensure optimal gut health.
5 Probiotics to Add to Your Diet and Why
Now that you know how important probiotics are to your overall health, it’s time to figure out how to get more of them in your diet. Though healthy whole foods tend to feed good bacteria, they don’t necessarily create them. That’s why it’s so beneficial to eat probiotic-rich foods that are known to contain friendly bacteria.
Not all probiotics are created equal. You will learn that firsthand anytime you try to choose a daily probiotic supplement to take. There are so many different varieties, so how can you know which are most beneficial to your gut? Here is a list of five probiotics you should add to your diet and why.
1. Bacillus coagulans
Bacillus coagulans produces lactic acid and can withstand extreme environments (including high acid levels found in the stomach). Its robust ability to survive stomach acid makes it a highly valuable type of probiotic to include in the daily diet. Bacillus coagulans is known for its ability to relieve stomach distress. This friendly bacteria type is found in a variety of fermented foods such as kombucha, kimchi, yogurt and sauerkraut.
2. Gluconobacter
This type of probiotic is often found in kombucha scoby, the living culture of yeast and bacteria that help to ferment the kombucha. Gluconobacter is an important part of high-quality kombucha because it can produce gluconic acid, which can significantly impact the quality and taste of the finished product.
In addition to its superior taste, kombucha containing gluconic acid also offers a variety of impressive health benefits. It may help detoxify the body, support healthy digestion, and have anti-inflammatory effects. It could also assist in regulating blood sugar levels and delivering important antioxidants to the body.
3. Acetobacter aceti
Acetobacter aceti is another gluconic acid-producing probiotic that is often found in the best kombucha products. Usually kombucha contains either gluconobacter or acetobacter aceti. Superfoods Company Instant Kombucha powders contain both of these friendly bacteria types.
4. Lactobacillus acidophilus
This common probiotic helps to break down lactic acid. This is the sugar found in milk and milk products. In addition to helping you digest milk, it may reduce diarrhea and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome while boosting your overall gut health. This friendly bacteria type may also help reduce eczema, allergy symptoms and cholesterol. It is commonly found in kefir, yogurt, tempeh, cheese and other fermented or probiotic-rich foods.
5. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the strain of yeast found in nutritional yeast. Too often, yeast gets a bad reputation for having a negative impact on health. Nutritional yeast is a different story altogether, though. This type of yeast can reduce inflammation and support immune function.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is found in some quality kombucha products and is rich in nutrients. It contains riboflavin, B vitamins, potassium, iron, fiber and calcium. It may support a healthy pregnancy, lower fasting blood glucose levels and promote skin and hair health. Due to its vitamin B content, products containing this strain of yeast may help boost energy and reduce feelings of fatigue or tiredness.
Get a Healthy Dose of Friendly Bacteria From Quality Kombucha Products
It might seem creepy at first to realize that there are trillions of microorganisms hanging out in your digestive tract. However, these useful organisms are responsible for breaking down the foods you eat so you can absorb their nutrients. Though they’re microscopic, they play a huge role in your overall health. To make sure your gut bacteria serve you well, it’s important to give them an environment they can thrive in. That means eating the types of foods they love and cutting back on foods that can cause “bad bacteria” to grow.
If you’re ready to make sure your body is inhabited with friendly bacteria that can give you energy, reduce digestive discomfort and help your immune system function optimally, try adding more probiotic-rich foods to your diet. Kombucha powder is a great choice because it’s so versatile and doesn’t require refrigeration in its powder form. Find delicious kombucha powders to add to your daily diet today.