Probiotic Foods: Natural & Healthy Foods Made With Effective Microorganisms®

Ancient Fermentation Science, Applied to Your Kitchen Today

Fermented foods have sustained human cultures for thousands of years, and the science behind them is now better understood than ever. Research on the gut microbiome has established connections between beneficial bacteria and digestion, immune function, nutrient absorption, and even mood regulation through the gut-brain axis. Probiotic Foods is a practical guide to making those foods at home — with a specific focus on Pro EM·1®, a live liquid probiotic developed using Effective Microorganisms® technology originally pioneered by Dr. Teruo Higa of Okinawa, Japan.

This is not a general fermentation cookbook. It is written specifically for people who use or are interested in Pro EM·1®, and it teaches you how to use that product as a starter culture across a wide range of recipes — from fermented fruit drinks and home-brewed ales to yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough-style breads, and lacto-fermented condiments.

Why Pro EM·1® Is Different From Conventional Probiotics

Most commercial probiotics are freeze-dried, a process that destroys an estimated 85–90% of microbes before the product reaches the consumer. The surviving microbes then require 10–14 hours of rehydration before becoming active — and if the capsule is enteric-coated, that dormant period extends to 16–22 hours. In a normal digestive transit time of 33–53 hours, this significantly limits the window for microbial establishment.

Pro EM·1® is a fully fermented, live probiotic produced in a GMP-compliant facility in Tucson, Arizona. It is fermented for more than 40 days at near body temperature using certified organic molasses, raw honey, certified organic aloe vera juice, and structured purified water. The result contains all seven strains of living microbes alongside their full complement of fermentation metabolites — enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and lactic acid — already in an active state. Internal research from EM Research Organization (EMRO) has demonstrated near-100% microbial survival at pH 2.5, the approximate acidity of stomach acid, compared to less than 50% survival for other tested probiotic brands.

This book is built on that distinction. It teaches you to use Pro EM·1® not merely as a daily supplement, but as an active fermentation starter.

What the Book Covers

Probiotic Foods is organized into ten chapters following a historical and scientific introduction to fermented foods and EM Technology®:

• Chapter 1 — Four no-fermentation methods for adding Pro EM·1® to your daily diet immediately
• Chapter 2 — Ten fermented probiotic drink recipes: pineapple, cranberry, apple, grape (red and white), peach, honey-ginger, limeade, and citrus cream
• Chapter 3 — Home brewing EM® beer: light lagers, blonde ales, pale ales, IPAs, porters, and stouts
• Chapter 4 — Paleo recipes: sweet potato mash, kale chips, and chicken lettuce fajitas
• Chapter 5 — Salads, dressings, and kimchi: balsamic vinaigrette, raw mango salsa, and traditional kimchi
• Chapter 6 — Baked goods: spent-grain granola, French bread, muffins, and pizza dough
• Chapter 7 — Fermented vegetables: traditional sauerkraut, Japanese rice bran pickles, zucchini pickles, and fermented chile mash
• Chapter 8 — Fermented meat dishes: carne adobada, turkey tandoori, and chorizo
• Chapter 9 — Dairy and non-dairy yogurt: whole milk and dairy-free coconut milk versions using Pro EM·1® as the starter
• Chapter 10 — Fermented condiments: lacto-fermented mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and hummus

About the Author

Eric G. Lancaster is the founder of TeraGanix, the U.S. national distributor of EMRO's Effective Microorganisms® products, including Pro EM·1® Probiotic. He has spent more than a decade developing educational materials on EM Technology® for home users, agricultural producers, water treatment professionals, and health practitioners. Probiotic Foods was first published in 2016 and has been substantially revised for this 2025 edition.

PRODUCT DETAILS

FieldDetailTitle: Probiotic Foods: Natural and Healthy Foods Made With Effective Microorganisms®

Author: Eric G. Lancaster

Edition: 2025 (revised from original 2016)

Pages: 71

ISBN: 979-8-9876384-3-9

Publisher: Eric G. Lancaster

Format: eBook / PDF

Category: Home Fermentation · Gut Health · Natural Foods

Primary Product: Pro EM·1® Probiotic