Many people talk about probiotics as supplements, but you can actually get these microorganisms through your diet by eating foods high in probiotics. Probiotics can provide benefits such as helping with chronic health issues like IBS and IBD, supporting digestion and maintaining a healthy balance in your gut microbiome by encouraging beneficial bacteria to grow.
Fortunately, many probiotic foods are already in your fridge or pantry. You can also find them easily at your local grocery store, so consider adding a few to your next shopping list.
What are probiotics?
“Probiotics are live microorganisms, often called ‘good bacteria,’ that help maintain a healthy balance in your gut by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and suppressing harmful ones,” said Gillean Barkyoumb, a registered dietitian and nutrition expert at Plexus Worldwide, which sells dietary supplements.
“Probiotics are commonly found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut, as well as in dietary supplements,” she added. “Regularly consuming probiotics can support digestion, boost your immune system and may even improve mood and overall well-being.”
To determine which foods high in probiotics are right for you, we compiled a helpful list below. But before you change your diet, make sure to consult your doctor first.
What are the best foods high in probiotics to eat for a healthy gut?
If you want more probiotics in your diet, below are 12 excellent probiotic-rich foods. In addition to these foods, you might also try probiotic supplements. Look for labeling that reads, “contains live cultures” or “contains active cultures” in these common probiotic foods.
1. Yogurt
A staple probiotic-rich food, go for yogurt with live and active cultures. Some yogurts are specifically marketed for their probiotic content or to help improve digestion. Yogurt usually has L. acidophilus bacteria, which can promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut. Yogurt is a great option because it’s widely available, comes in a variety of flavors to suit your taste and can be eaten straight from the container.
2. Kimchi
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made by fermenting vegetables with probiotic lactic acid bacteria, so it can give you that probiotic punch. It’s made with healthy ingredients like vegetables (most commonly Napa cabbage, carrots, scallions and radish), garlic, ginger, red pepper powder, and other spices. It makes a wonderful side and is traditionally served with steamed rice. Kimchi is associated with research regarding anti-cancer, anti-obesity, colorectal health, cholesterol reduction, anti-aging, brain health, immune health and skin health properties.
3. Pickles
You may be surprised to learn that pickles can contain probiotics. You have to make sure you buy fermented pickles, which are usually found in the refrigerated section of the health food aisle. Some brands even advertise probiotic content. They trend under the term “healthy pickles,” but be sure to read the nutritional labels to make sure they contain probiotics. You can even make them at home. Some people drink or use the juice the pickles are fermented in. Note that jarred pickles tend to be high in sodium.
4. Sourdough
Sourdough starter contains lactic acid bacteria. The starter is the environment where yeast and good bacteria grow by consuming water and flour. Natural prebiotics and probiotics are listed in research as one of the benefits of sourdough bread. It’s also linked to better blood glucose control, reduced cholesterol, a lower risk of diabetes, reduced cardiovascular disease risk and improved weight control. It also makes a pretty good sandwich bread.
5. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk made using kefir grain. It starts as a normal cow’s or goat’s milk, and then a grain-like yeast and lactic acid bacterial colony called kefir is added to the milk. The mixture is left to ferment for around a day and then the milk is filtered from the grains, creating the kefir drink. The resulting drink is a powerful probiotic that actually packs more probiotics than yogurt.
6. Kombucha
Kombucha is “a go-to for fermented botanicals,” Barkyoumb said. “This magic potion has been dubbed the ‘immortal health elixir’ because of its ability to support whole-body health and wellness while preventing illnesses. High-quality kombucha is filled with probiotics and amino acids that will help your body digest sugar, and is also a great natural hangover cure.”
This drink is a fermented tea, so you’re getting the health benefits of tea with the probiotic boost of a fermented beverage. It’s made by adding strains of bacteria, yeast and sugar to either black or green tea, which leads to the drink’s probiotic-happy environment. It ferments for about a week or more until it grows a mushroom texture on top. The mushroom is filtered out to make new kombucha.
7. Sauerkraut
This German comfort food is actually fermented cabbage made by lactofermenting the vegetable in its brine with salt. As part of the traditional fermentation process, probiotics are in the end product. However, this is another product where you have to specifically buy probiotic sauerkraut or make your own. Many brands use vinegar and sugar or are pasteurized, which reduces the growth of bacteria and kills probiotics. Canned sauerkraut is usually made with vinegar or it’s pasteurized (or both).
8. Miso soup
This Japanese food is served as a side to many meals. Miso is a paste typically made from fermented soybeans and works as a food condiment to make sauces, spreads and soup stock. Miso soup uses this paste for the stock. Because miso is a fermented food, it packs the probiotic punch. Miso soup works great with larger meals but it also makes a nice, light lunch on its own.
9. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is twice-fermented apple juice. It has made the rounds for years as a popular health supplement. It has natural probiotics from the fermentation process. Its benefits need further research, but people also use it for everything from calming acid reflux to weight loss. It has a strong flavor, so if you don’t like taking it directly, add it to salad dressing, marinades or pickling liquid.
10. Some cheese
Certain types of cheese have probiotics. For instance, aged cheeses that are not heated afterward tend to have probiotics. Examples include Swiss, Gouda, cheddar, Edam, Gruyère, cottage cheese and provolone. The great news is that many popular cheese types have probiotics, including a healthy bowl of cottage cheese topped with fruit.
11. Pickled vegetables
Along the same lines as kimchi and pickles, you can also look for any pickled vegetables that specifically list having probiotics. One idea is to look into lacto-fermented escabeche, a pickled dish from Mexico that can contain a wide variety of vegetables. Or you can make a fermented giardiniera, an Italian pickle relish. Using fermented pickled vegetables is also a wonderful way to shop locally and preserve vegetables for use out of season.
12. Buttermilk
Buttermilk may seem like a drink out of Little House on the Prairie, but traditional buttermilk can be an excellent source of probiotics. Buttermilk covers different types of fermented dairy beverages, but traditional buttermilk is liquid skimmed out of the butter-making process. The trick is to avoid cultured buttermilk, the most common type in supermarkets that usually doesn’t have probiotics.
Yogurt (with live cultures), kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and kombucha are among the foods with the most probiotics.
Many fruits don’t contain probiotics, but their fiber can still be beneficial for gut health since they contain prebiotics. The Mayo Clinic reports that high-fiber fruits include raspberries, pears, apples with skin and bananas.
More studies are needed to confirm whether probiotics can affect acne, but according to the publication Practical Dermatology, there may be some benefits when probiotics are used alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Foods high in probiotics are good for your gut bacteria. They include yogurt with live cultures, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and kombucha. They work in tandem with foods high in prebiotics like bananas, onions, garlic and wheat and whole-grain products, per Harvard Health.
