Why Should I Eat Beneficial Bacteria?

By Jessica Rea, Let's Move Pittsburgh Intern

Q: I’ve heard that yogurt is nutritious because it contains good bacteria. What does this mean?

Thank you for your inquiry! This is a frequently asked question, so let’s start with the basics.  

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are the “good” or “beneficial” bacteria that work to keep your digestive tract healthy. They can be found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha. Try kimchi in this LMP featured recipe to reap all their benefits.

What Are Prebiotics?

Since probiotics are live bacteria, they need nourishment to thrive…that’s where prebiotics come in! Prebiotics are essentially food components that fuel your gut microbiota. Key sources include soybeans, bananas, oats, and apples. Get your daily dose of prebiotics with this simple Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal.

Why are they important?

Your gut is home to about 100 trillion bacteria, but not all of them are beneficial. Consuming a healthy amount of pre- and probiotics may help your “good” bacteria to out-compete your “not so good” bacteria, which promotes healthy digestion.  

References:

Brown, Leanne. Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day. Turtleback Books; 2015.

Mahan LK, Raymond JL. Krause's Food & The Nutrition Care Process. 14th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017