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Top 10 Probiotic Foods To Boost Your Immune System

Probiotic Foods To Boost Your Immune System

A healthy digestive system is the key to overall good health. To maintain a healthy digestive system, you need to improve your digestion and strengthen immune system. Now the question arises how to improve digestion and maintain a strong immune system that can fight off diseases. There are more than 500 million bacteria that reside in our intestine. Some of them are good for our health and others are bad. More the good bacteria, the stronger our immune system will be. Probiotics are “good bacteria” in our gut that helps the digestive organs function smoothly by stimulating digestive enzymes and juices. They also help our body to absorb vital minerals and vitamins like vitamin A, D, K and E and calcium, iron and chromium. Probiotics help to maintain a strong immune system by fighting the bacteria that causes disease. Probiotic supplements are also available in packed form in the market. But incorporating these natural probiotic-rich (friendly bacteria) foods in your diet can have better effect on your health than these artificial supplements. Along with offering immense health benefits, they will have no side effects on your health also.

Here Are The 10 Probiotic Foods To Boost Your Immune System:

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotic foods with good bacteria that help to create a healthy balance in the gut and soothe digestive problems like diarrhea, gas and lactose intolerance. Homemade yogurt are best to consume as they are naturally rich in live cultures, but if you are consuming commercial yogurt brand, check the label for live and active culture. Many popular brands are filled with artificial sweeteners, fructose corn syrup and hardly contain any nutritional value. Enjoy yogurt in your smoothies or top it with fruits to make it more delicious.

Yogurt

2. Miso

A traditional breakfast food in japan, prepared from fermented soybean paste, is a very popular probiotic food. Miso is loaded with more than 160 bacteria strains used for preparing seasoned dishes and soups which are low in calories and high in antioxidants. One serving of miso is good enough to provide required portion of good bacteria in our body. Miso is believed to neutralize the body from environmental pollution and protect the body from free radical damage. For making probiotic rich soup, just add a tablespoon of miso paste in hot water.

Miso

3. Kefir

Quite similar to yogurt, kefir is a thick and creamy dairy product that contains fermented kefir grain and goat’s milk. This drink contains mixture of 10 to 20 types of yeast and bacteria. It is believed to be a better source of probiotic food than yogurt. Kefir can even help ease lactose intolerance. Usually made from sheep, goat or cow’s milk, it can also be prepared from coconut milk. You can use kefir in smoothie recipes instead of yogurt or milk.

Kefir

4. Kimchi

Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made using fermented cabbage, radish or cucumber and tastes spicy and sour. As kimichi basically is made with pickled vegetable, it is great source of fiber and low in calorie and contains calcium, beta-carotene, iron, and vitamin A, C, B1 and B2, along with beneficial bacteria. If you can handle the spicy taste, kimchi is the best probiotic; you can consume it to strengthen your immune system.

Kimchi

5. Kombucha

Kombucha is a refreshing beverage, made of fermented sweetened black tea and contains good amount of healthy bacteria. Originated in China 2000 years back, this probiotic drink has the potential to increase energy, boost immune system and improve your wellbeing and even help to lose weight.

Kombucha

6. Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut, highly rich in live cultures, is made with fermented cabbage and some other vegetables and is rich in immune boosting vitamins like vitamin A, B, E and C and can help in reducing allergy symptoms. But look for unpasteurized form because pasteurization kills the good bacteria.

Sauerkraut
7. Tempeh

Tempeh is probiotic rich, fermented grain prepared from soy beans. Tempeh is a great protein-packed substitute for vegetarians. It contains protein, fiber and more good bacteria than tofu. Tempeh is rich in vitamin B12 and works like natural antibiotic and fights bacteria.

Tempeh

8. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is also high in probiotics that can help in keeping the digestive system healthy. Rich in antioxidants, dark chocolate helps fight free radicals and protects against various diseases.

Dark Chocolate (2)

9. Pickles

Salty pickles made by fermenting fruits and vegetables that do not contain vinegar are excellent sources of probiotics. Homemade pickles are a better choice. Commercial pickles can lack the natural enzymes that often get destroyed during processing.

Pickles

10. Apples

Apples are excellent source of dietary fiber. Whether apples contain probiotics or not is not yet established properly. But studies show that eating apples regularly provides a favorable pH conditions that help flourish good bacteria in the gut and produce short chained fatty acids to balance microorganisms.

Apples (2)

Probiotics help us our digestion, metabolism and immunity. Without them we can become susceptible to allergies and various autoimmune and chronic diseases.


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