Most people associate probiotics with yogurt. This can leave those who eat a vegan diet wondering if they have to miss out on the benefits probiotics have to offer. After all, are probiotics vegan? Yogurt sure isn’t vegan, so are there any probiotics that are?

Being vegan means not only do you not eat meat, but you also do not eat any animal bi-products. For example, this means no dairy, eggs, or honey—just to name a few things. It can be difficult for people who eat a vegan diet to be sure everything they are consuming fits their dietary needs. Even supplements can contain ingredients that aren’t vegan.

Probiotics are essential for maintaining optimal health no matter what diet you choose. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help replenish and restore the body’s microbiome.

The human microbiome is made up of bacteria both harmful and beneficial. When the good and bad bacteria are balanced, the body is healthy and happy. However, this balance is sensitive, and when it is disrupted, problems begin to arise. Even things we can’t avoid like antibiotics or environmental factors can cause the bad bacteria to overtake the good.

Probiotic supplements are the good guys. They replenish the microbiome with good bacteria restoring the balance. They also help to maintain this balance. The effects probiotics have on the microbiome provides benefits for the entire body.

Thankfully, there are probiotic options available to vegans which we will go over in this article.

Side Effects and Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics are natural, and when it comes to taking care of your health, these little guys are essential for men, women, and children alike. There are also only rare and mild side-effects associated with taking probiotics.

The most common side-effects are gas and bloating. But, these side-effects may go away on their own after a few weeks as the body adjusts to the new bacteria. After some time vegan probiotics may even help prevent or treat gas and bloating. However, if these symptoms are severe, they worsen, or are painful, you should consult your physician.

Natural vegan probiotics are generally a safe solution to many health conditions. But, if you have a compromised immune system or another serious illness, probiotics could be dangerous, and you should consult a physician before you consume any.

A few benefits probiotics have to offer are:

• Helps aid weight loss
• Boosts the immune system
• Improves digestive health
• Promotes a healthy heart
• Prevents infections
• Clears up skin problems
• Promotes mental health

10 Sources of Vegan Probiotics

Popular dairy products like yogurt, soft cheeses, and kefir are not the only options when trying to consume probiotics. Organic vegan probiotics can be found in a variety of different foods. While these vegan foods high in probiotics may sound a little different, they may be worth giving a try.

Sauerkraut

This is a powerful probiotic source. Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage and can make a tasty side dish, or you can eat it on top of a vegan sausage. Be sure to either make your own or buy unpasteurized sauerkraut as pasteurization kills some of the good bacteria.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a spicy fermented cabbage that is popular in Korea. It is full of probiotics as well as vitamins and antioxidants. This could make a great side to some fried rice. But, you may have to make your own kimchi because it often has seafood added.

Miso

This is a classic Japanese soup that is said to contain as many as 160 bacteria strains. Miso soup is also full of vitamins and antioxidants.

Tempeh

Tempeh is similar to tofu and is gaining popularity. Tempeh is an Indonesian dish made of fermented soybeans. It has a firmer texture than tofu and contains probiotic benefits due to the fermentation process.

Sourdough Bread

This is an option you may be more likely to have heard of before. Use it to make a veggie sub or have it on the side of some soup. This bread is a great probiotic-friendly choice.

Sour Pickles

I’m sure we all know what a pickle is. Add it to your sandwich or have it as a snack—this is an excellent source of probiotics. However, you will have to either make them yourself or find some that have been fermented in sea salt and water opposed to vinegar to get these probiotic benefits.

Olives

Olives are another great probiotic-friendly option. Throw them on a salad or even have them as a snack; it’s easy to find a good recipe that calls for olives. The briny solution that olives are fermented in is what gives them their probiotic punch.

Soy/Nut Milk

Soy and nut milk contain some probiotics. There are also soy and nut milk products being made with probiotics added to them. Make sure to look for labels that say “live and active cultures” to be sure you will be getting probiotics.

Kombucha

This is an interesting tea that has become quite popular in recent years. Kombucha is known to help the body detox and is packed with probiotics. It also contains amino acids, active enzymes, and antioxidants.

Vegan Supplements

It can be challenging to fit these different vegan foods with probiotics into a person’s daily diet. When consuming probiotics through food there is also really no way of knowing if the probiotics survived the body’s stomach acids and are actually alive and doing the work they are supposed to do.

You also can’t be sure you are getting the right strains you need or the amount of beneficial probiotics you need. Not to mention these foods can be difficult to find and may not seem too appetizing to some.

Vegan probiotic supplements make it easy to get the probiotics you need. There is no guessing if you are consuming the right strains, if they are alive, or if you are getting enough. You also won’t have to take up fermenting foods in your basement as your new hobby.

Vegan probiotic supplements provide all of the benefits you need in an easy to take capsule.

What Are the Best Vegan Probiotics?

When choosing the best vegan probiotics supplements, look no further than MindZymes. We strive to provide the highest quality probiotics available on the market.

All of our probiotics are formulated in a world-class NSF certified probiotic facility in the USA. They are also non-GMO, non-dairy, soy-free, gluten-free, preservative-free, vegan, and Kosher certified. Not to mention they are shelf stable as well as acid and bile resistant meaning they will survive to do what they do best.

Take control of your health and start taking advantage of our vegan probiotic supplements.

 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.