Probiotics versus prebiotics – what is the difference?

Probiotics versus prebiotics – what is the difference?

By Kamyra La Fauci – Accredited Practising Dietitian

Gut health – it’s all anyone seems to be talking about these days… and for good reason! You’ve likely seen the terms probiotics and prebiotics featured in news stores, articles and even on social media when discussing gut health, but what is the difference between the two?  

Whilst they sound similar to each other, prebiotics and probiotics play different roles in supporting a healthy gut. This article helps to simply break down the differences between prebiotics and probiotics, and touch on whether supplements are essential for maintaining a healthy gut.  

What are probiotics?  

In simple terms, probiotics are live micro-organisms that can help to improve the health of your digestive system when consumed. Our large bowel, also referred to as our colon or as our gut contain billions of bacteria, both good and bad. Consuming probiotics can help to improve the balance of the good and bad bacteria and therefore help to improve or restore a healthy gut flora so that your body can keep working the way it should.  

Probiotics have not only been linked with promoting gut health, but also play an important role in mental health such as anxiety and depression and have also been found to play a role in oral health, for skin conditions like eczema, and are also linked with our immune system. We still don’t know everything about Probiotics but with more research being performed, we are continuously learning about the various health benefits.   

What are prebiotics?  

Unlike probiotics, prebiotics are not living organisms. They are substances (mostly fibre) that act as the food to feed the friendly bacteria in the gut to keep them alive and to help stimulate their growth and diversity in the gut. Without prebiotics (aka the food) the good bacteria they are unlikely to survive in the bowel.    

How can I include more probiotics and prebiotics in my diet? 

Before you spend money on expensive products and supplements, remember there are several foods and drinks that naturally contain pre and probiotics. 

  

What about Probiotic Supplements? 

Probiotic supplements are usually sold in capsule form and contain live beneficial bacteria. Whilst we know probiotics play an important role in gut health, there is not a large body of research to prove which exact strains are the most effective and how much of the bacteria survive once they reach the gut.  

If you’re looking to boost your gut health, start firstly by introducing more probiotic food sources in your diet, and if you don’t like any of the probiotic foods or feel more comfortable having both foods and supplements to boost your intake then go for it – it definitely won’t hurt! In special circumstances, you may benefit from a probiotic supplement if you have conditions like IBS or even IBD but be sure to discuss this with your Dietitian or Specialist first.   

So in summary, the key to boosting the balance of good bacteria in your gut and maintaining a healthy flora is incorporating a balance of both probiotics and prebiotics in your diet. It is important to remember that the rest of your diet also needs to be well-balanced to create a supportive environment for bacteria to thrive. It can simply take 2-4 weeks to change your composition of gut bacteria, which means it’s never too late to revamp your diet to support your gut and overall health! 

Interested in learning more about Gut Health? Contact us at the BMI Clinic on 1300 850 059 to learn more about services available to you!