Probiotics and Prebiotics: What’s the Difference?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, and prebiotics is food for these bacteria. Eating foods or supplements containing both can help balance your gut bacteria.
Probiotics and prebiotics are both pretty big topics in nutrition these days. Yet even though they sound similar, the two play different roles in your health.
What are probiotics and prebiotics?
✓Probiotics: These are live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements. They can provide numerous health benefits.
✓Prebiotics: These substances come from types of carbs (mostly fiber) that humans can’t digest. The beneficial bacteria in your gut eat this fiber.
Eating balanced amounts of both probiotics and prebiotics can help ensure that you have the right balance of these bacteria to keep your gut microbiota healthy.
Which foods are prebiotic?
Foods that are high in prebiotic fiber include:
√ legumes, beans, and peas
√ oats
√ bananas
√ berries
√ Jerusalem artichokes (not the same as regular artichokes)
√ asparagus
√ dandelion greens
√ garlic
√ leeks
√ onions
Which foods are probiotic?
There are also many probiotic foods that naturally contain helpful bacteria, such as yogurt.
Examples of fermented foods include:
√ sauerkraut
√ kimchi
√ kombucha tea
√ kefir (dairy and nondairy)
√ some types of pickles (unpasteurized)
√ other pickled vegetables (unpasteurized)