7 (Non-Yogurt) Snacks That Improve Digestion
Nothing against Jamie Lee Curtis, but sometimes we're not in the mood for yogurt—or we don't have a spoon. These alternative foods will also keep your system on track.
By Corrie Pikul
The Yogurt Cousin You Can Drink Straight Out of the Bottle
Okay, we're fudging a bit here, because while kefir isn't technically yogurt, it's awfully close—which means it has the same optimal mix of probiotics (live "good" bacteria that maintain balance in the gut) and prebiotics (nondigestible carbs that act as food for the probiotics). The technical difference: While yogurt is created from milk by adding certain lactic acid bacteria, kefir is made by combining milk with a complex mixture of yeasts as well as lactobacillus bacteria. The difference that will matter to you: Kefir is usually found in liquid form, so it's like a ready-made smoothie that you can drink on the go (no utensils necessary).
Published 09/13/2013