Stay away from sugar-packed yogurt. Here are the top five healthiest probiotic foods.

Beyond Yogurt: 5 Foods Loaded With Probiotics.

In All Health Watch, Diet and Nutrition, Featured Article

Probiotics are one of the best things you can put into your body.

Research shows that “good” bacteria fight depression, aid the immune system, and improve digestion. They even keep your mind sharp.

But there’s a problem.

The number one food usually recommended for boosting probiotics is yogurt. And most of it is far from healthy. It’s packed with sugar.

Tiny one-serving cups of yogurt can have 30 grams of sugar. That’s like gulping down 8 teaspoons of granulated sugar. It’s not just flavored products. Even Dannon All Natural plain non-fat and low-fat yogurts have 12 grams of sugar per 6-ounce serving.1

Top 5 Probiotic Foods

There are other food sources far healthier than yogurt that can give you a probiotic lift:

  1. Sauerkraut. The German staple is made from fermented cabbage. It not only has plenty of live cultures, but it’s rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E.2 Don’t buy the mass-produced shelf-stabilized stuff in the canned section of the grocery store. It has been pasteurized, which kills the probiotics. Look for sauerkraut in the refrigerated section. One brand we recommend is Bubbies of San Francisco.3
  1. Coconut kefir. It’s a non-dairy version of the classic Turkish fermented milk drink. You pronounce it “keh-FEAR.” It has a high concentration of probiotics… To the point that you can sometimes find it sold as a supplement. Look for it in the refrigerated section of health food stores.4
  1. Kombucha. This is a fermented tea that can be a great soda substitute because of its natural carbonation. Look for organic versions online or at health food stores.
  1. Kimchi. This traditional Korean dish is a mixture of fermented vegetables and seasonings. It often includes radishes, ginger, cabbage, and chili peppers. It is available at Asian markets and online.5
  1. Brine-cured olives. Olives in brine have large amounts of probiotics. The brine allows the probiotic cultures to thrive. Look for organic varieties. And make sure the label does not say it contains sodium benzoate. This additive can kill probiotics.6,7

Don’t let their marketing fool you… Yogurt isn’t the best way to get more probiotics in your diet. Try adding any of these five probiotic powerhouses to your cart instead.

Do you eat any of these foods? Which is your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know.

In Good Health,

Angela Salerno
Executive Director, INH Health Watch

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References:
1http://www.dannon.com/dannon-all-natural/
2http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9331/top-10-probiotic-foods-to-add-to-your-diet.html
3http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHTXDJC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CHTXDJC&linkCode=as2&tag=whipighol-20
4http://www.drperlmutter.com/eat/brain-maker-foods/
5http://theconsciouslife.com/top-probiotic-foods.htm
6http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/13-probiotic-filled-foods/
7http://draxe.com/top-10-probiotics/