It’s not news to us that protecting our bodies and fueling it with nutrients that allow us to feel our best is essential. But for some of us, the recommendations others provide can feel unachievable with the minutiae of our everyday lives or simply too expensive. So how do we supplement our bodies with the necessary nutrients it needs without breaking our bank?
What Are Probiotics and Why Do They Matter To Me?
Our bodies need probiotics to protect our microbiome—the part of our body that fights off and regulates harmful bacteria. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed, do an excellent job of regulating our gut health. These microorganisms mainly live in our stomach and intestines.They work in conjunction with our bodies to regulate our gut health, support our immune system, and ultimately rid our bodies of bad bacteria. Different foods contain different amounts of live microorganisms, but they don’t live in our bodies forever.
Are Fermented Foods Considered Probiotics?
Fermented foods contain healthy microorganisms that benefit our gut health. However, this doesn’t mean fermented foods qualify as a probiotic. For a fermented food to be considered a probiotic, it must contain a sufficient amount of live organisms to deliver a proven health benefit when consumed in a specific amount. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk contain ample probiotics.
Probiotic Supplements are Costly. How Can I Consume Probiotics Without Paying A Hefty Price?
Before scanning the internet for another costly supplement that will occupy shelf space in your medicine cabinet, let us fill you in on what foods you can consume that are filled with probiotics and are cost affordable. Though supplements contain higher levels of probiotics, consuming foods daily that have probiotics ensure we also get the unique nutritional benefits.
Below is a list of affordable and delicious foods that contain probiotics:
- Aged Cheese such as Gouda, Cheddar, or Mozzarella
- Kefir
- Traditional uncultured buttermilk
- Yogurt
- Kombucha
Integrating Probiotics Into Our Everyday Lives
Daily consumption of foods rich in probiotics protects us from harmful bacteria and promotes a healthy ecosystem in our gut. Implementing foods like kefir, yogurt, and aged cheeses is a cost-effective and nutritious way of taking care of our bodies. For unique and delicious recipes that contain dairy-based probiotics, click here.
