Which Probiotic Foods Are Best For Weight Loss
Not only are probiotics essential for maintaining optimal gut health, but they can also help you lose weight. Here are the ten best probiotic foods for weight loss:
1. Yogurt
Not all yogurts contain probiotics. That’s why it’s essential to read the label. Both Chobani and Fage brands have live and active cultures, so they are usually a safe bet.
2. Cold potatoes
Potatoes that have been washed, cooked, and cooled are one of the best sources of resistant starch, which is a prebiotic. This type of indigestible carbohydrate acts like food for gut bacteria, and it increases insulin sensitivity.
3. Kefir
Kefir is similar to yogurt, but it’s made from fermented cow’s milk. The kefir grains, which are made of yeast and bacteria, ferment milk, producing a healthy drink that’s good for your gut. Kefir has been shown to alleviate gastrointestinal problems and allergies.
4. Green bananas
Green bananas are bananas that aren’t fully ripe. They’re a rich source of prebiotics, especially resistant starch, helping to promote healthy bacterial flora in your intestines. They also contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
5. Kimchi
Kimchi is made by fermenting vegetables with probiotic lactic acid bacteria, helping to support good intestinal flora. What’s more, kimchi also provides mega doses of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, protecting against cancer, obesity, and constipation.
6. Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a lacto-fermented brine filled with cabbage, carrots, and spices as well as healthy bacteria for your intestines. Sauerkraut has been shown to boost good bacteria in the gut so much that it increases serotonin production, enhancing your mood.
7. Chocolate
Chocolate lovers rejoice — dark chocolate helps encourage the growth of healthy gut bacteria. How? Chocolate protects healthy bacteria as it passes through the stomach, ensuring it’s absorbed in the small intestine.
8. Garlic
Garlic has powerful bacteria-boosting properties. This is because it contains prebiotics, which helps to feed and sustain healthy bacteria in the gut. Raw garlic is the best source, but cooked garlic also works.
9. Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that has billions of beneficial probiotics along with antioxidants. It helps promote weight loss, aids in digestion, and decreases inflammation in the body.
10. Apple cider vinegar
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains probiotics that help your gut health. It’s also a natural diuretic that sheds unwanted water weight. To reap all the benefits of apple cider vinegar, try adding a tablespoon to a glass of water or mix it in your salad dressing.
Optimal gut health = weight loss
Research has shown just how crucial probiotics are for maintaining healthy intestinal flora. In fact, certain strains of Lactobacillus bacteria can help you lose weight and belly fat. That’s why you should increase the amount of good flora in your gut by eating foods that help grow beneficial bacteria.
References
- “6 Prebiotic Foods You Should Add to Your Diet ASAP,” Health, December 18, 2018.
- “The 7 Best Probiotic Foods for Your Gut (That aren’t Yogurt),” Reader’s Digest, n.d.
