Don't worry about the people in your past; There's a reason they didn't make it to your future.
Maya Chocolate,Tabasco, Mexico
Tabasco in Mexico is considered the likely birthplace of chocolate – the famous Maya chocolate. The people of ancient Maya grew cacao and drank chocolate mixed with water, honey, and even chilli peppers. They believed chocolate had medicinal value. Offerings of cacao beans were given to the gods, and chocolate drink was a part of religious ceremonies.
Maya chocolate in Tabasco, Mexico is rated as one of World’s top 10 chocolates by National Geographic. The word itself possibly deriving from the Maya xocoatl—taste hot chocolate Maya style: thick, foamy, bittersweet, and flavored with chili peppers. The Spanish conquistadors tempered the bitter brew with sugar, cinnamon, ground almonds, and milk. Try it both ways. If you are in Mexico, visit Comalcalco, Tabasco. It has a cacao museum and cacao haciendas.
Humans have approximately 100 trillion bacteria living in your GI tract, which includes 500 different species and 7,000 different strains. The beneficial bacteria in ourgut helps us properly digest food. If we are low of these microbes probiotics will help us. Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host.” It is derived from Greek -means “for life”. Why probiotics gained so much importance in our lives? Here are the reasons- studies have shown that probiotics are helpful in following conditions:
Diarrhea: Researchers found that probiotics can shorten diarrhea attacks in children and adults.
Diarrhea from antibiotics: Sometimes taking antibiotics can trigger diarrhea as they kill good bacteria. Probiotics helps in developing good bacteria and reduces yeast infection. Inflammatory Bowel: Studies show that probiotics can help prevent pouchitis – irritation and inflammation of colon.
Bloating: Probiotics reduces bloating symptoms by reducing growth of yeast in the gut.
Eczema: Some studies indicate that childhood eczema can be controlled by natural probiotics
These natural microbes can be found in foods like yogurtas well as supplements that come in pills, capsules, powders, and liquids. The better way to consume probiotics is from natural sources. Because we will know where the probiotics have originated, the food will be mostly familiar to us and how good for our health.
A traditional Hawiian food called Poi is a good source of probiotics. It is a Hawaiian word for the primary Polynesian staple food made from the underground plant stem or corm of the taro plant (known in Hawaiian as kalo). It is a traditional part of Native Hawaiian cuisine. Poi is produced by mashing and pounding followed by cooking the corm (baked or steamed) until it is a highly viscous fluid looks like dough. Poi has a paste-like texture and a delicate flavor, with a pale purple color that derives from that of the taro corn. Poi powder is available online stores like amazon.com and http://tastyislandhawaii.com/
What it contains? Poi has more beneficial bacteria than yogurt. Fresh poi is sweet and edible all by itself. Each day thereafter, the poi loses sweetness and turns slightly sour, due to a natural fermentation that involves Lactobacillus, yeast, and Geotrichum. Taro is low in fat, high in vitamin A, and abounds in complex carbohydrates. Poi has been used as a milk substitute or baby food for babies. It contains no gluten, and as such is safe for ingestion by people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
One of the healthiest food – another pickled cabbage popular Korean side dish is spiced and pickled cabbage. It can be mild, medium or spicy! It is spicy and sour and this traditional Korean side dish is made by fermenting cabbage, cucumber or radish. Because of pickled vegetables, kimchi is a great low-calorie source of fiber. Early research demonstrates a link between kimchi consumption and immune system regulation. Common ingredients include Chinese cabbage, radish, garlic, red pepper, spring onion, ginger, salt, and sugar.
What it contains? Filled with vitamins, calcium, and probiotics; it’s an excellent and hot way to stay healthy. The best tasting kimchi is stored in room temperature for an average of six months to reach its full flavor. Besides beneficial bacteria, Kimchi is also a great source of beta-carotene, calcium, iron and vitamins A, C, B1 and B2.
Image credit: https://www.needpix.com/photo/949257/kimchi-spicy-raw-side-dish (Free for commercial use)
Made from soy protein, tempeh is a delicious meat substitute that’s full of vitamin B12 and probiotics. Try it baked, grilled, or sautéed for a tasty meatless meal. A tempeh starter with the fungus Rhizopus oligosporus is added to partially cooked soybeans, which then is left to ferment. As it ages, white fungi grows in between the gaps of the beans, filling them all in. Because the fermentation process turns it into patty form it often resembles a meaty loaf or a burger patty. It is gut friendly because of the probiotic contents that support the growth of good bacteria.
What it contains? Apart from R. oligosporus it is also a great source of vitamin B12, protein and fiber this vegetarian food can be sautéed, baked, or eaten crumbled on salads.
Sometimes called “blue algae,” microalgae is a grassy, green plant that is often used in juices. Microalgae is more of a food additive that is created from ocean plants such as blue-green algae, Spirulina and Chorella. When fixing your morning smoothie, add microalgae to include the probiotics that your body needs. – Although this is not a food per se, it’s great to add to your morning smoothie.
What it contains? Microaglae refers to superfood ocean-based plants such as spirulina, chorella, and blue-green algae. Micro algae have been found to increase both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in the digestive tract in addition to many other important nutrients: chlorophyll, beta-carotene and the highest sources of protein and nucleic acids of any plant food.
Caution: Micro algae can raise levels of uric acid to the point that kidney stones can form, calcium can be depleted, and gout can appear.
Though it is relatively new to the market, a few types of milk contain added probiotics. Probiotic milk products may be beneficial in alleviating symptoms for a number of gastrointestinal conditions, including Helicobacter pylori infection, irritable bowel syndrome and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. According to the Dairy Council of California “milk to which probiotic bacteria have been added, such as acidophilus milk, and fermented milk products” are some of the best sources for probiotics. Benefits of probiotics include intestinal tract health, aiding with allergy resistance, immune system heath, aiding with urogenital tract disorders and lactose intolerance and having limited potential in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
What it contains? It contains Acidophilic bacteria. Some research has concluded that probiotic milk may cause gas and bloating in kids and the elderly, so check with your doctor to make sure it is okay for use in your home.
Image credit: Image by Couleur from Pixabay (Free for CC0)
When you sauerkraut bread you might wonder what it actually contains? It is nothing but fermented pickled cabbage, which is a stomach friendly vegetable rich with fiber. Used to top sausages or as a side dish, this condiment is made from fermented cabbage. If you are looking for sauerkraut then buy unpasteurized sauerkraut. Just remember:Always consult a physician before eating unpasteurized foods while pregnant.
What it contains? Made from fermented cabbage, sauerkraut is not only extremely rich in healthy live cultures, also helps with reducing allergy symptoms. Sauerkraut is also rich in vitamins B, A, E and C. It may contain following probiotics: Leuconostoc mesenteroides, L. brevis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, L. plantarum or L. bavaricus.
