Probiotics and Prebiotics - What are they?

Someone suggested me to write about the difference between prebiotics and probiotics, so here is my attempt to clarify it.

Probiotics Prebiotics

Yogurt and yogurt drinks All vegetables with lots of fiber

Miso Fruits especially with skin

Kombucha Grains

Apple Cider Vinegar Nuts

Fermented vegetable - Kimchi

Our whole body is actually full of different kinds of bacteria and microorganisms, a flora living in balance which does not cause harm until the equilibrium is off. Usually, there will be sufficient probiotics in the gut with regular diet.

Probiotics is the good bacteria that live in the gut that help with digestion of food. Antibiotics which treat infections by ”killing”bacteria, will also get rid of some of the ”good” bacteria and disrupt the micobial environment temporarily. Normal living and eating generally will replenish these ”good” bacteria and the mirobial flora will be in balance again. Overuse of antibiotics will reduce the amount of normal bacteria in our body, especially the gut, giving pathogens, that are not ”killed” by the antibiotics, a chance to take over, leading to a number of medical conditions.

Prebiotics are food substances that will help the growth of the microbial flora of the gut. These are usually not digestible and will pass down the gut to the large intestine where the probiotics - ”good” bacteria, breakdown the food. The probiotics break down the nondigestible prebiotics into simpler compound that the body can absorb, supplying nutrients.

All these used to be achieved by just eating a balanced meal with dairy products and vegetables. Overuse of antibiotics disrupted the mircobial environment of the gut and now there is an entire industry of supplements to replenish and reestablish this microbiome. This can also be completely avoided by using antibiotics less and only when necessary.