Probiotics, a term meaning "for life," are living bacteria and microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that probiotics help the immune system stay strong and develop properly, protect against other bacteria and microorganisms that could cause harm to the body and aid healthy digestion. The Mayo Clinic notes that probiotics may even help to cure some diseases and disorders. Probiotics are similar to some bacteria that exist naturally in the digestive system, and they can be found in many common foods.
Yogurt
Yogurt is perhaps the best-known source of beneficial probiotics. These bacteria are essential to the production of yogurt, because their role is to "spoil" and ferment large quantities of milk and turn them to yogurt. To make sure you're purchasing yogurt that contains probiotics, look for the phrase "live and active cultures" on the label. The yogurt should contain several different types of bacteria, including lactobacillus acidophilus.
Kefir
Kefir, like yogurt, is a cultured and fermented dairy product that contains probiotics. The texture of kefir is somewhere between milk and yogurt, and it's popularly sold as part of smoothies or as a dairy drink that promotes longevity. According to the Institute of Food Technologists, kefir is made from kefir grains, which are a mixture of beneficial yeasts and bacteria.
Cottage Cheese
Not all varieties of cottage cheese contain live cultures, but some companies do produce cottage cheese that is fortified with probiotics. As of October 2009, Horizon Organics, Breakstone's and Dean's all manufacture probiotic-fortified varieties of cottage cheese. These products also provide healthy amounts of protein and calcium.
Sour Cream
Sour cream is another fermented dairy product that is produced when bacteria acts upon regular cream. In many cases, dairy manufacturers will deliberately add probiotics and a mixture of active cultures to sour cream. Because not all sour cream products contain probiotics, check labels at the supermarket if you want to choose a variety that does.
Miso and Tempeh
Miso and tempeh are traditional fermented soy products. Miso comes in the form of a paste. It can be used to make soups, season casseroles or as a condiment. The most popular probiotic, lactobacillus acidophilus, is present in most varieties of miso and tempeh. Tempeh is similar to a soy cake and has a rough texture. It's a popular food in Indonesia and is often used as a meat substitute in vegetarian dishes.
Cereal
Most cereals don't contain probiotics, but some manufacturers incorporate yogurt or yogurt ingredients into their cereals that add some live cultures. Kashi and YogActive are two companies that produce probiotic cereals (as of October 2009).
