Probiotic Foods Get the Edge
Some people prefer probiotic supplements over foods, but Gail Cresci, PhD, RD, notes that probiotic foods are a better choice. In particular, fermented foods — like yogurt, kefir (a yogurt-like beverage), kombucha (fermented black tea), sauerkraut (refrigerated, not shelf-stable), kimchi (made from fermented cabbage) and tempeh and miso (made from fermented soybeans) — provide a nourishing environment in which healthful bacteria thrive and release important byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids. “They have beneficial effects on your immunity, inflammation and cholesterol,” Dr. Cresci adds. “Go for probiotic foods first.”