Three Probiotic Foods

Eating or drinking probiotic food as soon as possible after having diarrhea can help prevent future cases of diarrhea by introducing healthy bacteria back into the digestive system. It can also help prevent adverse reactions to antibiotics should you need to take them.

Probiotics will help with IBD, IBS, GERD, leaky gut, and other digestive disorders.

The root cause of many digestive problems is a lack of healthy gut bacteria, enzymes, or stomach acid.

The initial cause could be antibiotic use, poor diet, infection from a virus, bacteria, fungi, yeast, or candida. If you are beginning the intake of probiotics or probiotic foods begin slowly. You may feel adverse healing reactions from the die-off of bacteria, virus, yeast, and fungi, and other toxins released into your blood stream. These toxins must be expelled via sweat, breathing, urine, or the stool.

That is why rice congees, and green veggie smoothies are so helpful. They help promote toxin release as well as probiotic growth.

There are five foods you may not know about that are naturally probiotic. You may want to integrate them into your diet.

1. Kefir. This is a milk-based food. However, like real butter, it does not have lactose. Studies indicate that it even helps people improve their digestion of lactose because kefir contains at least 3 times more live bacteria than yogurt. It is the bacteria, and digestive enzymes that help your body break down lactose sugars. Everyone reacts differently to kefir, so play around with your serving amounts to see what works for you. Begin slowly with 5-10 oz. Slowly increasing daily amount to include 1-2 8 oz. servings. Of course, if you have a milk allergy you would avoid drinking kefir and all milk products.
2. Parmesan cheese. Yes, I said that right! Hard-aged cheeses are naturally rich in healthy gut bacteria. So sprinkle some on your food, and enjoy.
3. Sauerkraut. Eat only the raw, organic kind. You can make your own, or purchase from your local health foods store. I believe Trader Joe’s, and Costco have good quality sauerkraut. It should be crunchy, and fresh tasting. You should drink the juice as well. Don’t let any of it go to waste. Like kefir, begin slowly with small amounts until your body gets used to digesting it. If you don’t eat a particular type of food group, you won’t have the enzymes necessary to break it down. That is why traveling, and eating new foods can sometimes cause stomach upset. Sauerkraut makes a great appetizer, or side-dish.

Here is one recipe you can try. If you do, please tell me what you think?

Probiotic Raspberry Drink

• 1 Cups plain kefir or sauerkraut juice
• 1 mangos, skin and pit removed
• 1/2 Cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1.5 Cups kale, stems removed and chopped roughly
• Add all ingredients to a blender, blend until smooth about 2 minutes.
• Drink and enjoy!

This post is an excerpt from Dr. Michele Arnold-Pirtle’s book, It’s All About Your Gut!

Buy your copy from www.lulu.com/shop enter in the title and purchase.

I appreciate comments, questions, and testimonials! Please like and share this post.

Dr. Michele Arnold, Doctor of Acupuncture Medicine.