Yes…,”prebiotics”…you read that correctly.You’ve no doubt heard of probiotics, but what are prebiotics? They are a key step in the digestion process and are gaining popularity. To find out what they are and if you should take them, read on.
Digestive System
As a refresher, probiotics are live micro-organisms found in your digestive system that help break down your food. Foods like yogurt contain probiotics, and you can also add them to your system by taking a probiotic supplement. Prebiotics are “food” that the probiotics digest. They are carbohydrates that probiotics consume in your digestive tract. Typically prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber found in foods like bananas, asparagus, onions and legumes.
The Synbiotic Effect
Certain foods, like kefir, yogurt and cheese contain both pre- and pro-biotics. This results in the synbiotic effect, or a “synergistic” effect that improves digestion. Add synbiotic foods to your diet to maintain a healthy digestive system. Improving our health through a better diet is the most effective way to obtain long-term health. At times, pre- or pro-biotic supplements may be necessary, like when taking an antibiotic medicine, or recovering after a colonoscopy. You can look for a supplement that contains both pre-and pro- biotics. While you can purchase prebiotics in a liquid or powdered form, taking them without probiotics is relatively ineffective. Taking the two together has shown some improvement in health conditions like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and some allergic disorders.
Side Effects
While few side effects exist for a pre- and pro-biotic regimen, a few symptoms are common: gas, loose stools, constipation or loss of appetite. If you break out in hives or have severe stomach pain after starting your regimen, you could be having an allergic reaction to the new bacteria you introduced to your body. Stop taking the supplement immediately. Remember that each probiotic contains different bacteria strains so one probiotic may work well for you, while you notice little or no results with another. Look for lactose-free and candida-free probiotics if you need them. There is no magic pill to gain health, but healthy dietary changes do add up over time!
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