Decades, even centuries ago, when nearly every house in the neighborhood had a vegetable garden in the backyard, people ate healthy meals, and got many essential nutrients without trying. Probiotics were something that was unheard of at that time, but these kept the body healthy, and functioning properly. Today, probiotics are well-touted supplements that aid in digestive health, keep the autoimmune system functioning, and help to maintain healthy skin.

History tells us that our ancestors had access to plenty of probiotic foods because a lot of food was fermented to prevent spoiling. Today, several probiotic rich foods still ensure good health for various components of the body, including:

1. Kefir
Kefir is similar to yogurt. It is a combination of fermented Kefir grains and milk. Being fermented with yeast, and bacteria, gives it a higher content of probiotics. It has from 10 to 34 different strains of probiotics, and has been used for over 3,000 years. Probiotic rich foods provide a gut microbe that can enhance weight loss

2. Sauerkraut
Cultured vegetables like fermented sauerkraut, and other vegetables are high in organic acid, and aids in the digestion of food.

3. Natto
Natto is a popular Japanese dish that consists of fermented soybean. It has a powerful probiotics within that is proven to boost the immune system.

4. Yogurt
Yogurt, or specifically Greek yogurt is probably the most well known probiotic food. It contains much of the good bacteria that the body needs. The best yogurt comes from the milk of sheep, goats, or cows that have been grass fed.

5. Apple cider vinegar
This potent vinegar not only provides a wealth of probiotics, it is also great for helping to control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. This can be taken daily as a drink, or used as a salad dressing.

6. Tempeh
Tempeh is a delicious fermented food from Indonesia. It is made from fermented soybeans. The result is an amazing cake-like substance, that’s rich in protein with plenty of probiotics.