In pharmacies across the world there are many supplements for sale that claim to be good for the bacteria that inhabit the gut and ensure good digestion of food. The plethora of remedies suggests that the problem is probably widespread. However, it could also be the case that commercial interests create demand through scaremongering and that ordinary foods with probiotics could do the same job as expensive supplements.
As usual, it is interesting to look to the East for clues on healthy eating habits. Eastern people are on average less obese than westerners and it is well known that their cuisine is extremely healthy. This is not accidental but the consequence of centuries of recipes and cooking practices that have been gradually perfected.
The Korean dish known as kimchi, or gimchi, is made from vegetables and a variety of seasonings. The particular type of kimchi depends upon the ingredients and a comparison might be drawn between kimchi and the many different kinds of stir fried vegetables. However, Korean chefs cannot be compared with a western type bachelor cook who flings what is available into a frying pan. He knows what he is doing and kimchi is a food prepared to aid digestion as it nourishes.
Tempeh is another Eastern masterpiece well known to benefit the gut. It is prepared from soya beans and in the fermentation process develops a beneficial mold. Although it originated in what is now Indonesia, Tempeh has spread to many other parts of the globe and is often used by vegetarians. Once again, the preparation takes skill and experience, and is not for amateurs.
Yet another dish of eastern origin is miso soup. This Japanese dish has been very widely distributed and, as a result, appears in a wide variety of forms and compositions. In some cases it may be more beneficial than in others.
The West is not entirely without contributions. Sauerkraut is a well known German food made by fermenting cabbage or other vegetables. During the fermentation process bacteria are produced that are beneficial to the flora of digestive systems.
Another western contribution is yoghurt. This can also be made from goats’ milk which is combined with grains and made into a food known as Kefir. Yoghurts are high in lactobacilli bacteria which can restore the health of digestive flora, especially when they might have been destroyed by antibiotics.
There are many foods with probiotics, some more effective than others and some preferred by individuals who may not be partial to other foods. Some people prefer not to take pills, distrusting them. They believe that necessary vitamins and nutrients are best obtained from foodstuffs that also serve other nutritional needs. Whatever the case may be there can be little doubt that there are some foods that improve the digestive process and that they improve a person’s quality of life considerably.
Find a summary of the reasons why foods with probiotics are good for digestion and details about the top probiotics food for healthy individuals, now.
