What’s the Difference Between Prebiotics and Probiotics?

By Dr. Victor Marchione

Many people are confused by the words “prebiotic” and “probiotic” and rightly so. They sound nearly the same and both have something to do with digestion. However, each has a very specific role to play in the body and each offers different benefits in terms of your health. Let’s take a closer look.

Probiotics are tiny, live microorganisms. These single-celled organisms are primarily bacteria, although some are also yeasts. Probiotics are made up of strains of bacteria and yeast that scientists have studied and identified. These bacteria are usually chosen to be included in a probiotic product because they are able to survive the trip through your stomach and into your intestines. Once there, these bacteria grow and colonize your digestive system with friendly bacteria.

Prebiotics aren’t live organisms—they’re actually fiber-like substances that help to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are essentially carbohydrates that your body can’t digest but which are still useful as feeding sources for beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics help out beneficial bacteria that are already growing in your body by supplying a source of fuel and by helping to maintain these friendly bacteria populations.

Why does your body need so much bacteria? Isn’t that a bad thing? You likely have in excess of 500 bacterial species in your body. Most of these are good bacteria that help to break down foods like carbohydrates so that they can be used as a source of energy. All these friendly bacteria also help your body to fight off infectious invaders and other harmful bacteria. Prebiotics make your digestive system hostile to bad bacteria.

To give you a more concrete example of the different benefits ushered in by prebiotics vs. probiotics, here are the results from a recent study performed at the University of Wisconsin. There, researchers studied the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on mothers who had recently given birth. When conducting a review of 37 clinical trials, the research team found that prenatal probiotics beneficially altered immune markers in breast milk, reduced vaginal infection rates, improved glucose metabolism, and reduced the incidence of gestational diabetes. Prenatal prebiotics, on the other hand, significantly increased beneficial intestinal bacteria. No adverse events were reported and all patients seemed to tolerate both probiotics and prebiotics well.

When prebiotics and probiotics are taken together, the therapy is referred to as synbiotics. It is thought that combining a probiotic with a prebiotic that specifically feeds it, helps to keep the new bacteria in the body for longer.

Prebiotic fiber occurs naturally in all kinds of plant species—particularly onions, garlic, and leeks. Probiotics can be found naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt or sauerkraut.

One thing to note about prebiotics vs. probiotics: prebiotic fiber isn’t affected by heat, cold, or time. Probiotics, on the other hand, can be killed off by heat or the passage of time.

If you buy prebiotics or probiotics in supplement form, make sure they don’t contain any added sugars or artificial fillers.

This article originally appeared on Food4BetterHealth.com.

Victor Marchione, MD received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1973 and his Medical Degree from the University of Messina in 1981. He has been licensed and practicing medicine in New York and New Jersey for over 20 years. Dr. Marchione is a respected leader in the field of smoking cessation and pulmonary medicine. He has been featured onABC News and World Report, CBS Evening News and the NBC Today Show and is the editor of the popular The Food Doctornewsletter. Dr. Marchione has also served as Principal Investigator in at least a dozen clinical research projects relating to serious ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

you may also like

Recipes We

Khela88

Fancywin

Jita Ace

Betjili

https://betvisa1.org/

jeetbuzz লগইন

jeetwin app

baji999

winbuzz

betvisa login

winbuzz

six6s

babu88

marvelbet

krikya

mostplay

4rabet

leonbet

pin up

mostbet

all rummy app

Fastwin

Jitawin

R777

Bhaggo

PBC88

Winbdt

Crickex

Betjee

Glory Casino

Jita Bet

Melbet

Jwin7

Jita Ace

Krikya

Six6s

Betjili

Mostplay

Jeetbuzz

Jeetwin

Mostbet

Baji999

Marvelbet

Betvisa

Mcw

Nagad88

Babu88

Jaya9

babu88 babu88 jeetwin abbabet nagad88 marvelbet melbet mostbet six6s crickex mcw casino baji999 betvisa krikya mostplay crazy time jeetbuzz 79king1 good88 11bet xoso66 nohu78 xin88 nohu90 v9bet fastwin betvisa
jeetbuzz
babu88
babu888
jeetwin
nagad88
jaya9
khela88
mostplay
baji999
abbabet
1xbet 12bet marvel bet 91 club betvisa login baji999 sky247 gugobet lotus365 yolo247 bsport loto188 bsport site 8day xoso66 v9bet rummy deity yono rummy new88 typhu88 jeetbuzz dafabet lotus365 bet88 v9bet đăng nhập thienhabet 188bet link dafabet login betvisa king567 yolo247 login 1xbet login 24betting 91club crickex kubet new88 hi88 jun88 w88 shbet mksports 33win f8bet 123b fb88 vn88 mu88 five88 bk8 w388 gnbet mcw casino thienhabet sodo casino cmd368 bsport eubet sbobet mibet cmd368 Faridabad Satta Satta King 786 Dafabet betvisa yono rummy rummy apk

alo789

https://metalwave.com.mx/app/

https://meisetio.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/ai/index.php?tunnel=alo-789

https://purneauniversity.ac.in/assets/js/mk/?tunnel=baji999

fastwin

fastwin

winzo

winzo

futemax

Kèo nhà cái

bongdadzo

Tỷ số bóng đá

KQBD

Kết quả bóng đá

rummy nabob

hi88

8day

97win

n88

red88

king88

j88

i9bet

good88

nohu78

99ok

bet168

satta king

satta matta matka

Canais Play

ALO789

yono rummy
rummy deity
rummy nabob
rummy wealth
daman games
jeetbuzz
yolo247
baji999
rummy gold
188bet
v9bet
789bet
crickex
1xbet
thienhabet
c54
sky88
33win
79king
kubet
shbet
good88
3king
nohu
lucky88
97win
xoso66
xin88
daga88
yolo247
jeetbuzz
betvisa
jeetwin
baji999
nagad88
babu88
mostplay
babu888
jaya9
khela88
jaya9
khela88
jeetbuzz
betvisa
abbabet
babu88
babu888
jeetwin
nagad88
jaya9
joya 9
khela88
mostplay
marvelbet
baji999

Sponsored From Malaysia

말레이시아에서 후원