Fermented foods vs probiotics: what's the difference?

Not all fermented foods are probiotic foods, says Anshul Singh, team lead of clinical nutrition and dietetics at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram. Fermentation is a natural process in which bacteria and yeast break down sugars, changing a food's taste, texture, smell and shelf life, as in curd, idli batter, kimchi and sauerkraut. Probiotics are live micro-organisms that give health benefits in adequate amounts.