Foods That Contain Friendly Bacteria

Oct 20, 2010 | By Ashley Tyson

Although you may associate bacteria with infection, some strains are actually beneficial and friendly to the human body. Bacteria naturally live on and within the body in a delicate balance between "good" and "bad" forms. Certain foods laden with live and active bacterial cultures can even contribute positively to your health.

Miso

Miso is a fermented soybean paste that has a combination of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae and bacteria, according to the University of Hawaii's Department of Botany. Miso contains the lactic acid bacteria Pediococcus halophilus and Streptococcus faecalis, according to the book "The Book of Miso" by William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi. These B12-synthesizing bacteria aid in digestion and food absorption.

Yogurt

Yogurt is probably the most well-known food item that contain probiotics, or "friendly" bacteria. MayoClinic.com says that plain yogurt is one of the healthiest items you can eat. Common bacterial strains include Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus thermophilus. According to a 2006 study by Marina Elli et al., and published in "Applied and Enviornmental Microbiology," these bacteria survived through the entire digestive tract indicating the metabolic and absorption enhancing capabilities of these microorganisms.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is German and translates to "sour cabbage" in English. This is due to the fermenting process aided by lactic acid bacteria, according to the book "Making Sauerkraut and Pickled Vegetables at Home" by Klaus Kaufmann and Annelies Schoneck. Sauerkraut eliminates disease-causing bacteria and reintroduces friendly bacteria, like Lactobacillus acidophilus, which aids in digestion and the proper elimination of waste products, Kaufman and Schoneck say.