Prebiotics and Probiotics provide the right kind of nutrients in your body for healthy bacteria to win I your digestive system, it limits the growth of harming bugs, helps you to digest food and get the ideal nutrition from your diet.
Our digestive system needs help from healthy bacteria so our body can breakdown food and absorb nutrients so we can stay healthy and have enough energy through the day. We need friendly bacteria in our digestive tract specially in the lower intestine to prevent the development of diseases.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are substances with healthy bacteria, that when is ingested stays on our digestive tract. When there is an imbalance in healthy and bad bacteria in the gut, we experience symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract and in other parts.
What are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are substances that when you ingested them promote healthy bacteria in your digestive tract, in the colon. Prebiotics keep the microflora in the gut healthy.
So what is the difference between Prebiotics and Probiotics
The complement each other, prebiotics makes sure that there is a right environment for healthy bacteria to grow and function in your digestive system. So if you fail to take enough prebiotics in your daily nutrition, taking probiotics will not keep enough healthy bacteria in your intestines.
Yogurt and other foods that contain prebiotics and probiotics are called synbiotics.
How do I know if I have an imbalance of Prebiotics Levels
If you have unhealthy prebiotic levels in the gut, results in an imbalance of bacteria in the gut.
These are some of the symptoms you may experience:
- Diarrhea
- Fatulence
- Bloating
- Obesity
- Depression
- Influenza
- Urinary Tract infections
- Allergies
- Vaginal Yeast infections
- Skin Problems
What are some of the Benefits of Healthy Prebiotic Levels
There have been many clinical studies showing the benefits of prebiotics in adolescents, infants and adults.
Taking the right amount of prebiotics in food or supplements has many benefits:
- Decreases GI symptoms
- Helps to lose weight
- Increases your energy levels
- Promotes healthy bacteria in your tract
- Makes a balance of bacteria in your digestive tract
- Promotes the absorption of important nutrients from your diet
- Prevents Colon cancer and other types of cancer
- Promotes proper calcium metabolism and healthy bones in adolescents
- Better well being
- Prevents Type 2 diabetes
How to add Prebiotics to your Diet
If you have any symptoms of inadequate prebiotics balance and you want to stay healthy you can add some of the following foods to your diet:
- Honey
- Asparagus
- Whole Grains
- Onions
- Bananas
- Kiwifruit
- Legumes
- Artichokes
- Garlic
- Oatmeal
Taking Prebiotic Supplements
However one of the easiest ways to promote the right levels of prebiotics is to consume prebiotic supplements.