When it comes to nutrition, prebiotics and probiotics are the common terms that we usually hear or read. These two are very essential in our body and they have different roles in sustaining our health. Basically, probiotics are bacteria that live in our body naturally and at the same time, it helps our intestine breakdown food. On the other hand, prebiotics are made up of carbohydrates that our body is not able to digest. This kind of bacteria exists as food for the probiotic bacteria that we take into our body. Microbiome therapy is the term that we use when we describe or define the use of probiotics and prebiotics together. Technically speaking, we don’t have to take a prebiotic for probiotics to work. However, taking them together will make the effects more evident and effective
Probiotics
There are two types of probiotic bacteria namely Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Nowadays, lots of fermented products such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles and others contain natural probiotics. There are also supplement products for probiotics that people can buy in the market. Usually, they come in a liquid or powder form. Generally, probiotic products and supplements need to be kept inb the refrigerator to contain the bacteria, keep them alive, and for them to reproduce.
Prebiotics
On the other hand, prebiotics have no bacteria on it. Technically speaking, prebiotics are considered as fuel that support the growth of the bacteria. All prebiotics are kind of dietary fiber that is why it is being used as a support system for people who would like to lose weight/ Fiber inulin which can be found in bananas, chicory root and asparagus is a kind of prebiotic that can be used as food for gut bacteria. Another source of bacteria are garlic, onions, legumes, artichokes and others. Nowadays, prebiotics are being used in wide variety of applications and products because of the health benefits it can provide to people. As a matter of fact, prebiotics are now being added to instant formula to make the resemble of the content of breastmilk.
There are lots of health benefits of prebiotics and probiotics in the filed of nutrition. There was a study conducted in 2012 that showed almost 4 million adults across the globe used probiotics for health. Some of the health benefits of prebiotics and probiotics include treating diarrhea, allergic disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and even common cold. Studies also show that prebiotics can be very effective in treating obesity.
Overall, not all probiotics are the same with each other because they vary when it comes to the bacteria strains. Hence, not all kinds of probiotics will work the same way for you or for anyone. This is why it is very important that before buying anything in the marketplace, make sure that you know exactly what you are buying and you should conduct about the supplement or product you are buying first. Information such as benefits, probiotics side effects, risk and others are the things that you need to pay attention to.
