Top 7 Probiotic-Rich Foods | Ochsner Health (2024)

FAQs

What fruit is the best probiotic? ›

You can increase your intake of probiotics by consuming more probiotic-rich foods, including fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, and yogurt. Alternatively, you can consider using a probiotic supplement.

Probiotics are in foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut. Prebiotics are in foods such as whole grains, bananas, greens, onions, garlic, soybeans and artichokes.

The probiotic strain in Culturelle^® - Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG^®) – is the #1 most clinically studied strain of probiotic. Considered the premier probiotic in the world, over 1,000 scientific studies and over 30 years of research have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG^®).

The samples with the most abundant probiotic bacteria populations were pistachios, almonds, walnuts and peanuts, and the origin of the nuts and their composition was found to affect the levels of bacteria present.

Probiotic foods contain beneficial live microbiota that may further alter one's microbiome. These include fermented foods like kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, pickled vegetables, tempeh, kombucha tea, kimchi, miso, and sauerkraut.

Eating a large amount of sugar is linked to an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your gut. Processed foods, as well as alcohol, can also negatively impact gut health. Prebiotic and probiotic foods like whole grains, onions, garlic, fermented foods, miso and yogurt feed the good bacteria in your gut.

Oats and barley contain the highest amount of the prebiotic, beta-glucan. Science suggests that whole grains containing beta-glucan may help lower LDL-cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels, and encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria (7).

What cheese has probiotics? ›

Typically, probiotics are in cheeses that have been aged but not heated afterward. This includes both soft and hard cheeses, including Swiss, provolone, Gouda, cheddar, Edam, Gruyère, and cottage cheese.

Kefir contains more probiotics than any yogurt. With up to 61 different strains of microbes, it can be an excellent source of probiotics.

The most common fermented foods that naturally contain probiotics, or have probiotics added to them, include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh, kimchi, sourdough bread and some cheeses.

In terms of probiotics, they said research indicated that Lactobacillus​ spp, bifidobacteria​, and Akkermansia muciniphil ​helped produce the inflammation-reducing SCFA butyrate.

Leafy greens, such as spinach or kale, are excellent sources of fiber, as well as nutrients like folate, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin A. Research shows that leafy greens also contain a specific type of sugar that helps fuel growth of healthy gut bacteria.

But in order for probiotics to thrive and multiply, they need a steady diet of good, fibrous foods. Avocados, oats, asparagus, onions and mangoes are all great prebiotic examples. One of the best-tasting prebiotic foods? Avocado.

But new research shows that perhaps the best probiotic aid out there is the one your grandmother promoted: the apple. Other fresh fruits and vegetables aren't far behind. In his latest article, "The Best Probiotics,” Dr.

Lemons are also high in pectin, a kind of fiber that acts as food for your gut bugs, promoting healthy gut bacteria balance and growth. Many studies have shown that certain fibers like those in lemons stimulate the growth of beneficial probiotics1 in the microbiome like bifidobacterium.

Is coffee a probiotic? Firstly, I'll just say that as a rule, coffee is NOT generally a probiotic. But a while ago an interesting company came out with a probiotic coffee containing a probiotic strain, Bacillus coagulans GanedenBC30¹, which apparently has a unique ability to survive in a hot drink.

What juice is high in probiotics? ›

Fruits such as kinnow, guava, mango and pineapple have been used to prepare probiotic fruit juices. These fruits serve as a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and proteins. Fruit juices already contain beneficial nutrients, so they help in serving an ideal food matrix for carrying the probiotic bacteria.

Blueberries

Research shows that blueberries can dramatically improve gut bacteria. They are rich in prebiotics, which serves as a precursor to probiotics, contributing to healthy bacteria in the gut and colon.

Almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans also appear to be quite heart healthy. So are peanuts — though they are technically not a nut, but a legume, like beans. It's best to choose unsalted or unsweetened nuts. Adding salt or sugar to nuts may cancel out their heart-healthy benefits.

A natural form of probiotic tea would be something like kombucha. Kombucha probiotic tea is naturally fermented, which allows the growth of good bacteria. When you drink this probiotic tea, you're getting all those healthy bacteria into your gut microbiome.

SANTIAGO, Chile ─ Cranberry juice can be as effective as probiotics in maintaining good digestive health, a University of Chile study found.

In conclusion, green tea consumption might act as a prebiotic and improve the colon environment by increasing the proportion of the Bifidobacterium species.

Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is a great way to regulate digestion. People who support a water flush for colon cleansing recommend drinking six to eight glasses of lukewarm water per day. Also try eating plenty of foods high in fiber & water content.

What is the best fruit for gut health? ›

So what is the best fruit for gut health? Raspberries.

Peanut butter is loaded with gut-healthy fiber. But what really is fiber? Fiber hangs around in your digestive system and strengthens the good bacteria in your gut, while aiding the digestive process and helping your body remove toxins. Fiber feeds you and your gut bacteria.

Most prebiotics are plant foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains that contain dietary fibres and other beneficial compounds, like polyphenols: your gut bacteria break them down into good stuff like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vitamins.

May have probiotic effects

Cream cheese is made using a starter culture from lactic acid bacteria. Some of these strains of bacteria are probiotics, which are friendly bacteria that offer health benefits ( 12 ).

What kind of milk has probiotics? ›

Acidophilus Milk

One of the easiest ways to get probiotics is to use this kind of milk, which has been fermented with bacteria. You may see it labeled as sweet acidophilus milk. Buttermilk, too, is rich in probiotics.

Probiology is one of the most potent probiotics on the market, thanks to its 40 billion CFU's (colony-forming units). This means that it is highly effective in restoring balance to the gut microbiota. Unlike other probiotics, Probioogy can do this safely without causing stomach issues.

Even though the strains of naturally-occurring probiotics in yogurt are beneficial, your yogurt may simply not have enough of it to be helpful. In order to receive the full benefit of probiotic potency, you'd need to eat more than a dozen yogurts to match the potency of an adult dose of LoveBug probiotics.

Bananas are also a good source of prebiotics that activate friendly probiotic bacteria found in yogurt and kefir. Probiotics are important because they support your immune system, keep your digestive system healthy and promote urinal and genital health.

But in order for probiotics to thrive and multiply, they need a steady diet of good, fibrous foods. Avocados, oats, asparagus, onions and mangoes are all great prebiotic examples. One of the best-tasting prebiotic foods? Avocado.

Sweet potato

Antioxidants in purple sweet potatoes stimulate the growth of healthy gut bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, two probiotic strains that also play a role in preventing and treating certain infections.

As part of healthy eating, it's a good idea to avoid or limit foods packed with added sugar, which feeds bad bacteria, Blatner says, as well as highly processed foods, artificial sweeteners, red meat, and alcohol, which can have a negative effect on gut bacteria, and lead to inflammation.