Gut health has become a popular topic these past few years. After all, a healthy gut has a vital role in your health. Because of its popularity, most of you have probably heard about prebiotics and probiotics. These terms may sound similar; however, they have different roles in maintaining a healthy gut. So, why does your body need a balance of both? To answer this question, here are some details about prebiotics vs probiotics.
What are Probiotics?
As you may know, probiotics are foods or supplements that contain living microorganisms that provide health benefits.
Keep in mind that your gut has good and bad bacteria. You can have a healthy digestive system if you have more good bacteria in your digestive tract. Unfortunately, numerous factors can disrupt your gut flora. For instance, a diet high in sugar and fat may lead to the overgrowth of bad bacteria. For this reason, experts recommend eating probiotic foods or taking probiotic supplements to ensure that your digestive system has enough good microorganisms to combat harmful microorganisms.
Keep in mind that experts don’t recommend probiotic supplements if your diet includes probiotic foods, such as kombucha, sauerkraut, and other cultured vegetables.
What are Prebiotics?
To fully understand the topic of prebiotics vs probiotics, we need to understand the role of prebiotics in your gut’s health.
Prebiotics are a kind of fiber that your digestive system can’t digest. Instead, they serve as food for your good bacteria, allowing them to flourish. The good news is that you don’t need prebiotic supplements if you’re on a vegan diet. Remember, most whole grains, fruits, and vegetables contain prebiotics.
Aside from those plant-based products, you can also eat synbiotic foods that contain both probiotics and prebiotics, such as sauerkraut and kimchi.
Prebiotics VS Probiotics: Why Your Body Needs a Balance of Both?
Keep in mind that probiotics and prebiotics have different roles in your gut’s health. As such, you need to consume a balance of both to ensure that your digestive system has enough good microorganisms to fight the harmful microorganisms. Remember, probiotics are foods with good microorganisms. From there, you can allow these good microorganisms to flourish by feeding them with prebiotics.
Always remember that you should consult your doctor before taking prebiotic and probiotic supplements, especially if you have an underlying medical condition. Usually, a diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods is enough for a healthy digestive system.
