Prebiotics vs. Probiotics: The Breakdown

PREPD Hydration

Reviewed by our Expert Panel

09 September 2022

Not sure what all the fuss is about? Prebiotics & probiotics weren't made equal. Find out what's best for you and your gut!

8 Min Read
prebiotics for gut health

How Do Prebiotics Establish Good Gut Health?

Gut microorganisms have gotten a lot of attention in recent years. Researchers are still studying how and why gut bacteria impact human health. Still, it is becoming clear there is more than meets the eye.

Have you ever wondered what the basics of prebiotics vs. probiotics are? Which is healthier for your gut: prebiotics or probiotics?

Prebiotics and probiotics, naturally in food or as a supplement, help the digestive system and keep it working smoothly. It is crucial for overall health and well-being.

Probiotics are helpful bacteria, while prebiotics is food for these bacteria. This blog will clarify the difference between these two and why prebiotics are essential to establishing good gut health.

Let's continue!

What are Probiotics & Prebiotics?

Whilst the health benefits of prebiotics and probiotics cannot be overstated, their functions are distinct.

Probiotics:

These living microorganisms may be discovered in particular foods and dietary supplements. They can bring several health advantages.

Prebiotics:

These compounds arise from forms of carbohydrates (mainly fibre) that humans can't digest. Fibre is food for the good bacteria in your digestive tract.

There are several essential processes carried out by the gut bacteria (also known as gut flora, gut microbiota, or just gut bacteria). You may maintain a healthy gut microbiota by eating a diet that contains a good mix of probiotics and prebiotics.

Where Can You Find Prebiotics?

Increasing the number of probiotics in the gut microbiome isn't practical since the harmful bacteria already present kill most of the good ones.

Therefore, supplementing the healthy bacteria in your stomach with prebiotics will likely improve overall health and immunity. PREPD products can help increase prebiotic fibre in your diet and boost your daily hydration using our patented active ingredient and hydration formula Resistant Starch.

Clinical studies have shown that PREPD significantly improves hydration and intestinal health, backed by more than 20 years of collaborative medical research.

PREPD Prime and PREPD Recover include prebiotic fibre, although PREPD Prime's source is superior. Improving your digestive health is as simple as picking up one of these supplements.

Why Probiotics and Prebiotics are Essential for Your Health?

Our bodies are packed with trillions of tiny bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeast that form a microscopic ecosystem called our microbiome. Different types of bacteria can cause problems in the human digestive tract alone.

The gut microbiota aids in nutrition, digestion, and immune function, and both prebiotics and probiotics contribute to its overall health.

However, a condition known as gut dysbiosis involving an imbalance of gut bacteria can raise one's chance of developing infections, including diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and cancer. Causes of dysbiosis in the gut include:

  • Poor diet.
  • Illness.
  • Stress.
  • Old age.
  • Make use of antibiotics.

If you have a chronic health situation, you could find some relief from your symptoms if we improved your gut health and shifted your gut microbiota to one that promotes health.

What's the Difference Between Prebiotics and Probiotics?

"Probiotics are beneficial intestinal microorganisms. Prebiotics feed probiotics."

Marilia Chamon, the founder of Gutfulness Nutrition, a specialist in gut health, defines probiotics as "living, helpful bacteria that may restore and improve your gut microbiota." You can get them in pill or powder form or eat or drink things that contain them.

Conversely, prebiotics provides nutrition for beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract without being digested by the human body. Several foods and nutritional supplements include them.

Probiotics are short-term residents of the digestive tract; they can hold out for a while but won't permanently settle there.

Giving them a diet rich in prebiotic fibre helps beneficial bacteria flourish in the gut, promoting better digestive health.

Furthermore, Freuman stated that if you are generally healthy and wish to prioritize gut health, you should discard probiotics.

Foods Which Provide Prebiotics and Probiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics are consumed by those who have a balanced, diverse, and wholesome diet.

Foods with Probiotics:

  • Yogurt.
  • Kefir.
  • Vegetables and meats that have been fermented, such sauerkraut and kimchi.
  • Kombucha.
  • Buttermilk.
  • Cheeses with a longer shelf life, such as Gouda.

green banana on white background

    Prebiotic foods:

    A varied diet can guarantee that people take in a wide variety of prebiotics, which may provide fuel for a wide diversity of bacteria. Most fruits, vegetables, and whole grains fall into the high-fibre category and include prebiotics.

    Prebiotics may be present in some meals that are high in probiotics.

    Breast milk contains natural sugars that give infants access to prebiotics, and certain baby formulae also include prebiotics.

    Why is Prebiotics Good for Gut Health?

    As their name implies, prebiotics nourishes the good bacteria in your digestive tract. They are a kind of complex carbohydrates that are useless to the body. Thus, they make their way to the colon, where they provide nourishment for the good bacteria there.

    Probiotics, also known as live yeasts and healthy bacteria, benefit your digestive system and overall health.

    Prebiotics have additional benefits beyond simply maintaining a healthy gut flora:

    • Make it easier for your body to absorb calcium.
    • Modify the frequency of blood sugar rises caused by eating certain meals (the glycemic index).
    • You can reduce the time food spends in your stomach by fermenting it. That aids in preventing constipation.
    • Foster a healthy state of cell health in the intestinal lining.

    Prebiotics has recently been the focus of research due to their potential significance in managing gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and preventing weight gain.

    Bottom Line

    A healthy mix of gut bacteria is crucial for numerous bodily functions. Consume a diverse range of prebiotic and probiotic foods since they work together to foster a healthy equilibrium of good and harmful bacteria in the digestive tract.

    Supercharge your health and get the most out of your hydration and gut. PREPD's prebiotic hydration products are available online and in-store.

    Ensure you're getting the proper quantities by consulting your doctor. As with everything, there is always the risk of overdosing or experiencing unwanted side effects.