However, a few things can stand in the way of maximizing the probiotic powers of certain foods, drinks, and supplements—particularly when and where stability is concerned. With that in mind, it turns out that dialing up the temperature isn’t so great for good or bad bacteria to thrive.
To discover just how concerned we should be when it comes to heating probiotic foods, we reached out to Bianca Tamburello, RDN, a dietitian based in New York City.
Does heating probiotic foods kill off good bacteria?
Tamburello gets straight to the point on this question. “Yes, heating probiotic-rich foods kills off beneficial bacteria that help keep your gut healthy,” she begins (much to my dismay as a lover of Korean kimchi stew and deli fare like melty Reuben sandwiches with extra sauerkraut). “Probiotics are hard to find in foods, so heating them before consumption means you’re missing out on the opportunity to help b