Probiotic Foods – An Overview of 12

One of our beautiful kids has a few medical issues that have caused us to do LOTs of research. To our surprise, there are a number of promising studies about the use of probiotics in the treatment of everything from intestinal disorders through to behavioral problems.  Very interesting stuff.

On the weight of these studies, we’re looking into beginning the G.A.P.S. diet with our son, but we have to wait for a possible cecostomy before we begin in earnest. In the meantime, we’re doing what we can to improve his condition and begin the transition to a gut healthy diet through simple changes. While we are eliminating some foods, as the diet suggests, the main thing we’re doing is adding probiotics in volume.

But we really don’t have the funds to buy those cute, but VERY expensive, little drinks or the volume of specialty probiotic yogurts that we’d need to make a difference in our son’s intestinal 50

situation.

So what’s a thrifty Practical Pioneer to do? Figure out probiotic foods we can make at home!

It’s a much longer list than I thought, too, and I was pleased to see that it includes some foods we already eat and love. One of those items is buttermilk, which is easy and relatively inexpensive to make at home (see this post for instructions on how to do it). And yogurt, of course, didn’t surprise me (see this post for tips on how to do it in a crock pot). But much of the list did. Here’s what I’ve found so far and links to posts that discuss them in depth:

• Buttermilk
• Yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Kefir
• Kombucha
• Miso
• Tempeh
• Sauerkraut
• Pickles
• Kimchi
• Natto
• Microalgae

One of the problems with store-bought versions of these foods is that they are so processed, most of the beneficial probiotic properties are decimated. Even high quality, organic version are often pasteurized and processed enough to lose a ton of food value. That’s why making them at home is best. . .it preserves the useful microorganisms that have health benefits (unless you overheat and over process them there, too!).

Over the next few days, I’m going to be posting recipes for some of these foods. . .and explaining what their particular benefits are. If you, or a family member, has a hankering to improve your digestive health. . .hang on and get a pencil and paper!

(Photos courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net and can be found here and here)