You probably already know that the human body is teeming with bacteria.  From the surface of our skin to our intestines, we share our bodies with a multitude of microorganisms.  In the digestive tract live especially important bacteria.  The main benefit they offer is digestive support, but new research has shown that certain strains of bacteria in the digestive tract actually have very wide ranging effects on the body ranging from supporting the immune system to helping combat depression!

Unfortunately, certain circumstances like taking antibiotics, using hormonal birth control, eating a poor diet, or experiencing intestinal distress from illness, can deplete intestinal flora, causing subtle but significant health problems.  In many of these instances, it might be a good idea to take a probiotic supplement to rapidly restore intestinal bacteria.  On their own or in addition to a probiotic supplement, a daily dose of probiotic foods with live, active cultures is another great option to help your body maintain healthy levels of intestinal flora.  Fermentation has been used for thousands of years to preserve food and to add beneficial bacteria to the diet.  Different fermented foods contain varying amounts of different strains of beneficial bacteria.  Eating a variety of foods containing beneficial bacteria is a good way to ensure that you’re getting the most out of a probiotic-enriched diet.

When most people think about fermented foods, yogurt is probably the first thing to come to mind.  The whole family enjoys this tart and creamy treat, making a great daily addition to your diet.

Kefir is much like yogurt, but it has a thinner consistency and slightly different flavor.  Kefir is normally significantly higher levels of probiotic bacteria than yogurt, so a little bit of this tasty beverage can go a long way.

You may associate sauerkraut with some less-than-wholesome foods like hot dogs or fried schnitzel, but raw unprocessed sauerkraut actually makes a great addition to all kinds of dishes.  Its tangy, almost pickled taste lends itself well to sandwiches, as an addition to a salad, and when the mood strikes, it can even be eaten on its own!  Finely chopped sauerkraut can even be add to chicken or tuna salad as a tasty probiotic rich replacement for pickle relish.

Kimchi is a Korean dish made of fermented vegetables. Like sauerkraut, cabbage is the central ingredient in kimchi, but it is often accompanied by other vegetables and flavored with red chilli peppers which give it a spicy kick.

Kombucha is fermented tea beverage that is slightly fizzy.  It is definitely an acquired taste, some brands, and especially home-brewed kombucha, are known for having a distinctly vinegar-like aroma, while others can taste almost like apple cider.

One of the coolest things about these fermented foods is how easy they can be to make.  Fermenting foods like yogurt or sauerkraut at home is one of the best ways to ensure that none of the bacteria has been eliminated through heating or poor storage and transport.  All it takes is a quick search of the internet and a couple of tools to be on your way.

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