These days, it seems that everyone is clamoring to get more probiotics in their diet. And there’s a good reason for that – from a healthier digestive track to a stronger immune system, the benefits of probiotics are numerous. But how much yogurt can one person really eat?! Do you really have to take a pill or use a fortified product to get the good stuff? And what about people who don’t eat dairy — are they forced to stick to soy milk and tempeh? Luckily, there are many other sources of probiotics, some you might be eating already! Click through to check out some surprising sources of probiotics.
1. Certain Types of Cheese.
With the exception of cottage cheese, which is well-known for its excellent levels of probiotics, the longer a cheese has aged, the more probiotics the cheese has. Hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda, and parmesan are all good sources.
2. Miso.
Many experts believe that miso helps in the recovery process of victims of radiation poisoning. For the rest of us, miso, a paste made from fermenting barley, soy and rice, is an excellent source of probiotics.
3. Dark Chocolate.
Mother Nature threw us a bone on this one! Dark chocolate isn’t just a tasty source of antioxidants, it’s also a healthy source of probiotics. In fact, the sweet stuff has more probiotics than many dairy products — up to 4 times more.
4. Sourdough Bread.
Probiotics, right in your sandwich! Sourdough bread contains lactobacilli, a bacteria that is thought to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
5. Olives.
Good things do come in small packages! Olives in brine are an excellent source of probiotics.
6. Pickles.
When pickles are, well, pickled, in sea salt and water — not vinegar — they’re packed with the healthy bacteria you’re looking for.