Health and Nutrition: 7 Simple (Delicious) Ways to Get Probiotics Daily

“Inside the body lives a vast number of bacteria without which we could not remain in good health. There are over 100 trillion in each person with over 400 different species, most of them living in the digestive tract. Certain types of these bacteria help to maintain good health and others have value in regaining it back once it is lost.”

I’ve spoken in numerous posts before about the benefits of including probiotics, both from naturally fermented and cultured foods as well as high quality supplements. Different strains are beneficial for different reasons and included in the list of the things they do are:

Manufacture B vitamins, essential for energy, metabolism and overall healthr
Manufacture lactase, the enzyme needed to digest dairy foodsr
Produce vitami
K2
Boosts immune systemr
Lower cholesterol levelsr
Recycle estrogenr
Stimulate secretion of IgA and regulatory T cells for healthy immunityr
Finding ways to include probiotic-rich foods and supplements into your daily routine is something I believe everyone should do. Keeping your inner terrain well supplied with good bacteria is one of THE most important things you can do to really improve or maintain your health. Here are 7 simple ways to increase the healthy probiotics in your system:

1. Find a high quality, probiotic supplement from a reputable company that contains at least 10-30 different strains and 15 billion to 100 billion. https://goo.gl/HUIM0q

2. Include naturally cultured dairy like yogurt, kefir and Amasai. Choose plain, organic and full-fat when possible. http://goo.gl/HJwI9q

3. Include naturally fermented veggies in your daily meals. Sauerkraut, beets, cucumbers, kimchi – they’re easier than you might think to ferment!

4. Avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily – remember viral infections are not helped by antibiotics.

5. For a refreshing drink, especially on a hot summer day, consider kombucha. It’s a form of fermented tea that contains a high amount of healthy gut bacteria.

6. If you have access to a good quality sourdough bread, choosing that for your toast or sandwich will provide some good bacteria.

7. Be sure to include prebiotic rich foods – foods that contain fiber that feeds the probiotics and helps them multiply in your system. Foods like asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, onions, dandelion greens and raw garlic will feed the good bacteria.
Do you suffer from skin problems like acne, psoriasis or eczema? What about migraines, gout, arthritis, cystitis, candidiasis; or digestive issues like colitis or irritable bowel syndrome? The common denominator among all of these conditions is that probiotics have been shown to be effective in treating them.

I consider probiotics foundational for preventing illness, resolving health problems such as those listed above and maintaining truly vibrant health. After all we have more bacteria in us than anything else!
How do you include a good variety of probiotics in your diet?