The term “probiotics” is probably familiar to everyone, even people who are very far from a healthy lifestyle (we all remember yogurt advertisements that promise perfect digestion thanks to miraculous probiotics!) But have you heard of prebiotics? Let’s try to figure it out! Both probiotics and prebiotics live in the gut and are microscopic, playing a critical role in digestive health. In fact, our gut contains 10 times more bacterial cells than the total number of human cells in our entire body, according to Maitreya Raman, MD, PhD. Explaining in plain language, these are the “good” bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract. The flora of the gastrointestinal tract of each of us consists of symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. We all have both, and probiotics help maintain a healthy balance. They limit the reproduction of “bad” bacteria. Probiotics are found in fermented foods such as Greek yogurt, miso soup, kombucha, kefir, and some soft cheeses. , on the other hand, are not bacteria, despite their similar name. These are organic compounds that are not absorbed by the body and are ideal food for probiotics. Prebiotics can be obtained from bananas, oatmeal, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, leeks, chicory root, onions. Many companies are now adding prebiotics to fermented foods as well, such as yogurt and nutrition bars. Thus, since prebiotics allow symbiotic microflora to flourish, it is very important to get both probiotics and prebiotics from the diet.
2022-11-11