Many people don't understand the distinction between prebiotics and probiotics, but both can benefit your gut health.
Most of us are likely to mix up probiotics and prebiotics on a regular basis. However, it's critical to understand that they both have different effects on our gut health. These gut microorganisms are just a few of the trillions that aid digestion, absorb nutrients, and boost immunity.
Gut health can be maintained by eating a healthy balance of probiotics and prebiotics. While probiotics are living bacteria, prebiotics are derived from carbohydrates that probiotic bacteria in the gut consume.
Probiotics
These beneficial bacteria come from many food sources and are naturally present in the body. These living microorganisms work in harmony with the other beneficial bacteria to give your stomach a variety of health benefits. Probiotics produce natural antibiotics that destroy unwanted bacteria and aid in the removal of toxins from the body.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics serve as probiotics' primary source of nutrition. The main sources are plant fibre and sugars. The healthy bacteria in the gut eat these nutrients, which is fortunate because they could be hard for the body to absorb. They move from the small intestine into the colon undigested. Probiotics, after which it is fermented and eaten for energy.
How are prebiotics different from probiotics?
Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that consume prebiotics, which are dietary fibres. Prebiotics are essentially the fertiliser that helps the gut's beneficial bacterial colonies grow. Since prebiotics are not living creatures, they are unaffected by the temperature, acidity, rot, or degradation in your gut. An illustration would be blueberries, which are a pleasant source of prebiotic fibre and retain their efficacy even after being frozen. In contrast, probiotics are living bacteria that can be expelled when exposed to heat, decomposition, or stomach acid.
Probiotics support the efficient operation of the digestive system. Additionally, they help with weight loss, enhance heart health, and lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Probiotics improve the health of your stomach and guarantee easy bowel movements. In the stomach, prebiotics feed probiotics, promoting the growth of wholesome colonies of beneficial bacteria. They aid in the easy digestion of meals because they are a dietary fibre.
Probiotics are abundant in fermented foods. Cheese, paneer, and yoghurt are all excellent sources of probiotics. Prebiotics, which are essentially dietary fibre, are present in foods like apple, oats, garlic, and onion.
Your overall health depends on maintaining and enhancing the function of your digestive system. Keep in mind that prebiotics act as a food supply and the building blocks for probiotics.
For optimal gut health, make sure to consume a lot of probiotic- and prebiotic-rich foods.