Probiotics and diet

Up your daily probiotic intake simply by adjusting your diet. Dietitian and nutritionist Jaime Rose Chambers identifies six probiotic heavy hitters.

Our gut is teeming with tiny micro-organisms, in fact there are 10 times more bacteria cells in the gut than there are human cells. This environment of micro-organisms known as the “microbiota” are kept in harmony with the help of a wholesome diet rich in prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics are the fibrous material in foods like onions and apples that are like food for the bacteria in the gut. Probiotics, on the other hand, are usually bacteria found in fermented foods. These fermented foods contain a range of bacteria but for them to be considered a “probiotic” they must have clinical evidence of their health benefits. Then, of course, they need to survive processing and the treacherous journey through our gut. To be sure your foods contain probiotics, look for products labelled with “live and active cultures”. Pictured right are my top probiotic foods to add to your diet.