Gone are the days where gut health was not a polite topic of conversation. When gut health is the topic, prebiotics and probiotics are usually part of the convo, or at least they should be. Read on to learn how these two nutrient types can help you improve your gut health.
What Is A Probiotic?
According to the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), probiotics are “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”1 Bacteria are the primary type of microorganism considered to have probiotic effects, but some yeasts are also beneficial.2 The most well-understood benefits of probiotics are for gut health, but research shows that these special microorganisms may have benefits for skin health, weight management, and even heart health.2
When assessing your probiotics on a label, bacterial naming conventions include a genus, species and strain number and look like this: Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL 60. Lactobacillus is the genus, acidophilus is the species and CUL 60 is the strain number. It looks funny, but it is essential to know that you are using a strain number that has been clinically studied to make sure that your probiotic product will be effective. In addition to the strain name and number, you should also look for the count of live cells in your product. These are displayed on packaging as CFU, which stands for colony-forming units. Look for products that label the CFU in the product at the end of shelf life because the bacteria die off through the product’s shelf life.2 The number of bacteria may seem high, with many products containing 10 billion or more live bacteria! But, remember, bacteria are TINY, and our body is home to trillions of bacteria, so the billions from a probiotic supplement are small in comparison.
Though there are many foods that contain live and active cultures, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir, and kombucha, the ISAPP points out that these foods do not meet the definition of probiotics because they do not definitively label the number of bacteria present in the product. This makes it difficult to be sure that you will get the amount of bacteria needed for the health benefits you seek.1
What Is A Prebiotic?
The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) defines prebiotics as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit.”3 In layman’s terms, this means that prebiotics are food for beneficial bacteria (probiotics), helping them to grow and thrive. Prebiotics are to probiotics as fertilizer is to your garden.
Most prebiotics are carbohydrates like inulin, fructooligosaccharides, and galactooligosaccharides. You can find prebiotics in foods like bananas, onions, asparagus, oats, and apples. Scientists think some other substances may meet the criteria to be considered prebiotics like certain polyphenols and polyunsaturated fats, so these are sort of like the prebiotics of the future.3
READ MORE: What Are Prebiotics?
Can You Take Prebiotics And Probiotics Together?
Absolutely, yes! In fact, there’s a term for this type of product. A “symbiotic” is a product that combines the live microorganism and prebiotics into one. Synbiotics help to provide you with all-in-one digestive support, so you know that all of your bases have been covered. You can usually find them in pill or powder form.
Check out our probiotic products for a great product that combines clinically-studied probiotics with clinically studied prebiotic fiber.
The Pros of Pro and Prebiotics
Taking the right probiotic and prebiotic supplements are a great way to support your digestive health, which can have far-reaching benefits to your overall wellness. You can take these products separately or together, but always look for products that provide the clinically studied strains at the clinically-studied doses for maximum efficacy!
GNC Probiotics contains lots of clinically studied options that are a perfect addition to your wellness regime!
READ MORE: Digestive Health: Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes and More
