How do prebiotics and probiotics work?
Prebiotics and probiotics play different roles in the Broadway blockbuster ‘Gut Health’. The stars of the show, probiotics, naturally exist in your gut and are waiting for you to eat foods with prebiotic so their big performance can begin. Probiotics are the supporting cast essential to putting on a great performance.
If you have more bad bacteria than good you get sick, so, probiotics fight the bad bacteria to ensure their voice sings loudest. Prebiotics feed the probiotics with nutrients in preparation for these daily operas. When the balance of good and bad bacteria is on track, your gut feels on top of the world meaning that you’ll feel on top of the world!
Where can I find prebiotics and probiotics?
Take a peek at which foods are loaded with prebiotics and probiotics here.
Are prebiotics or probiotics better?
Prebiotics pretty much idolise and surrender themselves to probiotics for the greater good of a happy gut. Rather than a case of who is the better performer, prebiotics and probiotics are like two different singers with different parts in the song and like any good duo need to sing in perfect harmony to put on a great performance. Armed with plenty prebiotics and probiotics, you can improve your gut health and release your inner greatness.
Benefits of probiotics
BALANCE GUT BACTERIA
Probiotics have the magical power to help fight the bad bacteria in the gut to restore the natural and optimal balance. It’s best to keep these superheroes energised especially if you are feeling poorly or taking antibiotics. Your gut feels great when the bacteria are in equilibrium as it reduces digestive issues and allergies.
HELP DIGESTION
Did you know, in Europe and America an estimated 130 million people suffer from some form of chronic digestive disease? That’s twice as many as diabetes. It’s absolutely staggering.
PREVENT & TREAT DIARRHOEA
There have been various studies that indicate potential for probiotics to reduce a few different types of diarrhoea including infectious diarrhoea, traveller’s diarrhoea and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Say goodbye to the back of the toilet!
BOOST MOOD
Research firmly links gut health and mental health with probiotics taking some of the credit. The gut may even have more say in your happiness than your brain. Mind. Blown. Check out our article on the gut brain axis here.
Benefits of prebiotics
FOOD FOR THE PROBIOTICS!
Prebiotics energise the probiotics and enable them to offer the benefits listed above. Think of your gut like a Pac-man maze, when you eat yummy prebiotics such as garlic and apples, they then become available for the probiotics to devour and thrive off. Go Team!
Have prebiotics and probiotics been proven effective?
It’s early days in truly understanding the power gut science plays in individual health and wellbeing … I mean, Hippocrates, Greek father of medicine and Oath Giver to any medic calling themselves Doctor, advocated ‘Let food be our medicine’ only 3500 years ago! But, there is no question that these two are definitely gut-health besties. What is not yet known is which strains have what kind of effect on each of us as every gut is as unique as its owner. Our advice, experiment on yourself and watch out for little differences in the way you start to feel over time …. you might be amazed at just how much better you feel once you start showing your gut some lovin’.
Are there any side effects of prebiotics or probiotics?
For most people, eating food containing prebiotics and probiotics or even as a supplement won’t do any harm. Be mindful that it may take a little while for your digestive system to adjust and don’t get carried away though! Some people may feel a little abdominal discomfort, bloating or gas if changes are made too quickly – slow and steady wins the race. If you have IBS or a different kind of condition linked to your GI tract it’s best to chat to your doctor about it first.