These days, pretty much everyone and their mother would have heard about ‘probiotics’! The word is commonly mentioned in ads from mainstream brands like Activia. Good bacteria have gone mainstream!
Recent studies show over 70% of the UK taking health supplements, and you can be sure that probiotics are top of the list as one of the most popular supplements to take! However, not as many people understand what “PREbiotics” are.
This blog post is an introduction to what prebiotics and probiotics are, and where you can source them from.
What is prebiotics?
Prebiotics (normally high-fibre foods) are non-digestible fibres that act as food for human bacteria. Prebiotics are used to improve the balance of our microorganisms. Examples of prebiotics are found in foods like onions, leeks, garlic, bananas, apples, pears, asparagus, celery root, oats and barley.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or develop the “good” bacteria (normal microflora) in the body. They are the trillions of living bacteria found in your body! Top foods containing probiotics include Yogurt, pickled foods (raw, non-pasteurized), Miso, kimchi (also a source of prebiotics), Kombucha and more. Many fermented foods are also examples of probiotics.
How can supplementation help?
In addition to a balanced food diet, food supplements are also helpful in maintaining a balanced intake of prebiotics and probiotics. According to the European Food Safety Association (EFSA), food supplements are marketed in dose form – for instance, pills, tablets, liquids and drink powders – and are concentrated sources of nutrients. There are various unique benefits of supplementation, a common one being that it can provide a wide range of minerals and/or a concentration of minerals that for some may be hard to find in normal foods around them.
There are various health brands worldwide with supplements that can act as rich sources of prebiotics and probiotics. Explore our shop to see which of our products could be supplementary additions to your diet, and please contact us if you have any queries about our guidance around prebiotics, probiotics and supplementation.
For more great tips on how to look after your body head over to our blog page today.