Probiotics and Prebiotics Team Up for Healthy Digestion

What are probiotics?

probiotics  plural of pro·bi·ot·ic (Noun)
Noun

    A probiotic substance or preparation.
    A microorganism introduced into the body for its beneficial qualities.

 The root of the word probiotic comes from the Greek word pro, meaning to promote and biotic, meaning life. But what are probiotics actually, and how do they work?

 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines probiotics as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."  Probiotics are indeed alive, and most of these microorganisms are bacteria.  People may associate bacteria with antibiotics and antibacterial products. However, not all bacteria are harmful. In fact some types of bacteria beneficial and helpful to maintaining our health. That's right, not all bacteria are bad for us!

Our digestive system normally has both "good" bacteria and "bad" bacteria. Maintaining the correct balance between the "good" bacteria and the "bad" bacteria is necessary for optimal health. But medications, diet, diseases, and the environment can upset that balance. Scientists now have discovered the the balance of bacteria in stomach and the gut to be a key to optimal health.

Maintaining a good population of healthy bacteria within the digestive system helps our body in many ways, especially with fighting off infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.

Is your body able to handle this on its own or do you need to start including probiotics in your diet?

To achieve and maintain optimal health, we need to consume both probiotics and prebiotics in our diet. Prebiotics (good bacteria promoters) and probiotics (good bacteria) are partners that work together synergistically in the body to promote gut health.

Probiotics are found in fermented dairy foods including yogurt, kefir, and aged cheeses, which contain live cultures such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Some non-dairy foods also have beneficial cultures, as well, such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh and soy beverages.

Prebiotics are natural, non-digestible food ingredients that are linked to promoting the growth of helpful bacteria in your gut. Indeed, they're "good" bacteria promoters.  Prebiotics may improve gastrointestinal (GI) health as well as potentially enhance calcium absorption.

Some common foods that contain prebiotics are bananas, onions, leeks, garlic, asparagus, raw wheat bran and baked wheat flour.