What To Eat For a Healthy Gut
There are many natural foods that contribute to good gut health. In my opinion, these are the cleanest and most beneficial. Eating fiber rich foods & prebiotic foods is just as beneficial as eating probiotic foods. As you crowd in more of these foods, start to crowd out the foods that contribute to bad gut bacteria. Learn more about the benefits of eating for your gut, the specific benefits & research here.
PROBIOTIC RICH FOODS
Sauerkraut: Unpasteurized sauerkraut is rich in Lactobacillus bacteria—more than yogurt—boosts the healthy gut flora, strengthens immune system, & improves overall health. Mice fed probiotic-rich sauerkraut extract had reduced cholesterol levels, found a study published in World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. Examine the label as shelf-stable sauerkrauts can be pasteurized & prepared using vinegar, which does not offer the beneficial bacteria. Cancer-fighting & slimming properties.
Kimchi: Cabbage, radishes, and scallions, red pepper, salted shrimp (sometimes). Researchers at Kyung Hee University in Korea induced obesity in lab rats by feeding them a high-fat diet and then fed one group of them Lactobacillus brevis, the culture strain found in kimchi. The probiotic suppressed the diet-induced increase in weight gain by 28 percent!
Pickled Vegetables: Be sure that the pickled veggie you’re eating is, in fact, fermented—and not just pickled. Shelf-stable products are the first sign a pickle is just pickled. Buy refrigerated or make your own fermented pickles, and other veggies, at home with a starter, salt, and water.
Yogurt: Not all will provide probiotics. Some products are heat-treated after fermentation, which can kill most of the live active cultures. Added sugars can aid the bad bacteria instead of the good, so no sugar added, plain yogurt is best. Try to buy goat’s or sheep’s milk yogurt, grass-fed & organic. Diary-free yogurts (almond, rice, coconut) are easier for people to digest, but lower in protein.
Apple cider vinegar – Daily use. Jack of all trades. Great for controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, even weight loss. Drink or use as a salad dressing. Helps body create HCL (hydrochloric acid), which is a beneficial belly acid that helps digest fats, carbohydrates, and protein,” says dietitian Nikki Ostrower. “This aids in weight loss and it also helps to relieve acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome because of all the beneficial probiotics and amino acids.”
Kombucha: Goes back 2,000 years. Origin: Japan. Health benefits: digestive support, increased energy & liver detoxification. Slightly effervescent fermented drink made with black or green tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, known as a SCOBY. May only impart its benefits if it’s not pasteurized. Making your own at home is the best way. Watch sugar content.
Miso: A complete protein, high in fiber, stimulates the digestive system, strengthens the immune system, and reduces the risk of multiple cancers. Try miso soup. Add to foods after they’ve been cooked or heated.
Dark Chocolate: A source of prebiotics and probiotics. 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder or three-quarters of an ounce (usually a square) of a 70% + cacao bar.
Kefir: Fermented dairy product is a combination of milk and fermented kefir grains. Consumed for well over 3,000 years. Originated in Russia and Turkey. Means “feeling good.” Slightly acidic and tart flavor and contains anywhere from 10 to 34 strains of probiotics. Kefir is similar to yogurt, but because it is fermented with yeast and more bacteria, the final product is higher in probiotics.
Kvass: A Russian fermented foods beverage traditionally made from rye bread. Filled with digestive health benefits. Try beet kvass. Available at health food store.
PREBIOTIC FOODS
Bananas, garlic, leeks, onions, scallions, raw chicory root, raw Jerusalem artichoke (sun choke), raw dandelion greens, chickpeas.
