What Are Some Foods Containing Prokaryotes?

Several foods you may already be eating contain prokaryotes.

Several foods you may already be eating contain prokaryotes.

Prokaryotes are cells that do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. They are more commonly known to us as bacteria. Several foods you eat on a daily basis contain prokaryotes, or bacteria that are good for you. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that foods containing good bacteria, or probiotics, boost your immune system because they protect against bad bacteria forming in the intestine. Probiotics have also been clinically shown to have beneficial effects on conditions such as diarrhea and bacterial vaginosis. Probiotics are available in supplemental form, but many types of food can provide rich amounts of these good bacteria.

Yogurt Products

Yogurt is a fermented dairy product that contains live bacterial cultures. According to the National Yogurt Association, in order for a product to be called yogurt, it has to be cultured with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. These two strains of bacteria convert pasteurized milk to yogurt through the process of fermentation. Not all yogurts contain live bacteria cultures because they may be heated after they are made. If you are specifically looking for yogurt with active cultures, look for the "live and active cultures" seal. The seal ensures that the yogurt contains at least 100 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture. Frozen yogurt can have live and active bacteria as well. Brands with the "live and active cultures" seal must contain 10 million cultures per gram at the time they are made.

Milk and Kefir Products

Acidophilus milk and buttermilk are made with and contain good bacteria. They are produced by fermentation as lactic acid bacteria break down lactose into lactic acid. The bacterium used to produce acidophilus milk is Lactobacillus acidophilus, while buttermilk is produced with Streptococcus lactis. Kefir, a fermented yogurt-like drink, contains Lactobacillus caucasus.

Aged or Fermented Cheese

Cheese relies on bacteria for production as well. Generally, only aged cheeses or cheeses that have been fermented contain live cultures. Some yogurt cheeses are prepared with live cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Blue cheese contains the bacteria strains Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus strains. Swiss and Emmenthaler cheeses contain Lactobacillus helveticus.

Non-Dairy Fermented Foods

Non-dairy fermented foods can be packed with good bacteria as well. Asian dishes such as kimchi, tempeh and miso are all produced with and contain live bacteria. Black garlic, a fermented garlic, is produced by fermenting ordinary garlic at high temperatures. The result is black cloves of garlic with a sweet and tangy taste that are chock-full of good bacteria. Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus acidophilus are the bacteria strains generally found in non-dairy fermented foods.

Check the Label

If you are eating these foods specifically for their prokaryotic content, check the label. Foods with live cultures will most likely have a label highlighting their bacteria content. Many brands of fermented foods may no longer contain live cultures due to processing.

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