Prebiotics vs Probiotics – What’s Best for Your Health?
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are considered to be “good bacteria”. They are microorganisms that live in your intestines and aid in digestion and nutrient absorption. They are also said to contribute to a healthy immune system. There are trillions of microorganisms and hundreds of different strains of bacteria that inhabit your digestive system, and probiotics can help build up the good bacteria. Probiotic foods include yogurt, kombucha, and other fermented products.
What Are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics consist of fibers that and can be found in a wide selection of plant foods and help good bacteria grow in your gut. You can get an adequate amount of prebiotics from foods such as asparagus, bananas, garlic, berries, oats, onions and tomatoes. Prebiotics feed probiotics and help promote healthy bacteria growth in the gut which helps to aid in digestion.
How do Probiotics and Prebiotics Work?
Taking probiotics can help build up the good bacteria in your digestive tract. Probiotics can also replace the good bacteria lost when taking antibiotics. The fibers from prebiotics go undigested in the GI tract and are fermented in your colon, producing short chain fatty acids which benefit the good bacteria in your gut.
Types of Probiotics.
There are so many different types of bacteria that inhabit the gut, and several different strains of probiotics. The two main strains are called Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus.
Bifidobacteria is commonly found in food in supplements, and this species helps to support the immune system, promote a healthy gut, and helps break down lactose into nutrients. Some common strains of Bifidobacteria are B. animalis, B. longum, B. breve, and B. lactis.
Lactobacillus is a species of bacteria that produces lactase and lactic acid, which break down specific substances and bacteria. Common strains include L. acidophilus and L. reuteri.
What Are the Benefits of Probiotics?
While many more studies will need to be conducted to show just how much having good gut bacteria can affect our health, there has been research that suggests probiotics can be helpful with the treatment of several different health disorders. Research suggests that good gut bacteria can aid digestion and movement, which can help with the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, chronic diarrhea, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Probiotics can also help with certain skin conditions like eczema, allergies, and oral health. Certain research even suggests they can help with symptoms of depression – since there may be a correlation between gut health and brain health.
Certain research has also suggested that prebiotics can benefit your health in many ways. In addition to aiding in digestion, prebiotics can also help your body better absorb calcium, aid in processing carbohydrates, and enhance your metabolism.
Is it Safe to Take Probiotics?
There are many options for probiotic supplements on the market. Talk to your doctor if you are undergoing treatment for cancer or have a compromised immune system before taking probiotics. The average dose of probiotics ranges between five billion to ten billion units per day in one dose.
