There are several foods you can have at home that are a source of probiotics that are essential for restoring the balance of bacterial flora and thus avoiding minor and major health problems.
We hear a lot about probiotics, and we know that they are good, but when it comes to defining them, most citizens are not very precise. To clarify the concept, probiotics are the good bacteria in our intestines, and their function is to restore the balance of the bacterial flora to prevent small and large disorders in our body.
When this balance is broken, the symptoms are very complex, from irritable bowel syndrome to abdominal swelling; they can occur due to stress, intolerances, or infections, and regulating them with certain foods rich in probiotics helps their protective function.
Foods that are a source of probiotics
There are many everyday foods that are sources of probiotics. For example, yogurt, especially if it contains bifidus, helps digestion and reduces bloating. You can also opt for kefir, a ‘live’ fermented drink with a texture similar to yoghurt. It has a much higher probiotic load; in fact, there are those who ‘care’ for it at home so that it grows and multiplies, and then they distribute it in a kind of chain of goodwill. It is also available in commercial format.
Sauerkraut is another excellent way to help you lose belly fat and see your knees again when you look down. It is fermented cabbage that is very popular in German cuisine. It reduces gas and improves digestion, although it should be eaten unpasteurized to preserve the good bacteria.
Gherkins, a classic pickle with Aragonese taste, are also very good for the microbiota. However, for these purposes, they should be in brine rather than vinegar.
Cottage cheese should not be forgotten, especially if it has active cultures on the label. It is a great addition to salads or vegetables, for example.
Other foods that are allies of bacterial flora are garlic, bananas, oats, and red onions. Products that have become popular in the Western world from Asia also contain probiotics, such as kimchi (which also provides vitamin C, carotenes, and calcium), tempeh, or miso, which is so popular in soup form in Japanese cuisine.
Among the latest trends is kombucha, a drink that has been present everywhere in Spain for three or four years. It is fermented tea with fructose and is served in different fruit flavors. Finally, natto is one of the rarest in our country; it comes from soy and is fermented by the Bacillus subtilis bacteria. It has probiotics, vitamins, and essential amino acids, but it is not for everyone. The strong smell and pasty presentation deter many potential consumers.
