Prebiotics and probiotics get thrown around interchangeably on social media, in conversation, even website articles but they are actually two very different things. Whilst they are both very beneficial to our health, in certain cases, one may be more important than the other.
Prebiotic foods are often overlooked and underappreciated for their powerful role in maintaining a well-balanced gut microbiome.
Why? Prebiotics are the non-digestible particles within food that work to feed our beneficial bacteria. Commonly in the form of dietary fibre, prebiotics help the good guys proliferate, while keeping the bad guys at bay.
It is important to note that “prebiotics” and “dietary fibre” are not the same thing: prebiotics can be dietary fibre, however not all dietary fibre are prebiotics. The most significant difference between these two terms is that dietary fibre will feed the majority of the microorganisms residing in your colon; however, prebiotics are fermented by and feed very specific strains of colonic bacteria. These bacteria have been studied extensively for their health promoting effects.
Whilst, we do encourage our patients to eat more dietary fibre, we also encourage including at least a small number of prebiotic foods into our daily nutrition too! If you are new to prebiotics or suffer with digestive discomfort, it is recommended to start small with prebiotic foods and gradually increase as time goes on.
You will be happy to know that most of us more than likely have prebiotic foods on hand already!
. Garlic
. Onions, leeks
. Asparagus
. Oats
. Green bananas
. Apples
. Jerusalem Artichokes
. Nuts
. Seaweeds and microalgae
Try broadening your nutritional intake with some of these prebiotic rich foods and notice the difference you feel.
Healthy Gut | Healthy Mind | Healthy Life