Good Bug? Bad Bug? Find Your Healthy Balance.
A bit more evidence that links probiotics to heart health. As we continue to research and learn… the power of our gut flora and its impact on our overall health continues to show more and more importance! Pro and Pre – bioitcs – Know them, embrace them! Click for full report.
Prebiotics….
Prebiotics are actually a type of fiber and are often referred to as prebiotic fiber. They are necessary for all your ‘good’ bugs (probiotics) to survive and thrive.
The term prebiotic is a relatively new, although the type of fiber they refer to has been around for ages. Prebiotic fiber is an indigestible form of fiber that acts as a good source of food for the ‘good’ bug flora in your gut. For a fiber to be classified as ‘prebiotic’ is must resist digestion and absorption in the upper gut, be fermented by intestinal microflora and stimulate the growth of ‘good’ bug flora.
Prebiotics exist both in particular foods and dietary supplements. Foods that contain prebiotics include: Bananas (the greener the better), garlic, onions, broccoli, and whole grain oats. Common prebiotics found in supplements include: Inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides or FOS, psyllium, and wheat dextrin.
Bottom line… Probiotics and prebiotics have a symbiotic relationship… they need each other. Together they are the cornerstone of good and balanced gut health. Because of the important link between healthy gut flora and our overall health, it’s clear that providing your body with both pre and pro ‘biotics’ is essential.
Prebiotics – The What, Where and Why
Although technically not a ‘good’ bug.. because prebiotics are not bugs of any sort, however, they are good and they are necessary for all your ‘good’ bugs (probiotics) to survive and thrive. Prebiotics are actually a type of fiber and are often referred to as prebiotic fiber.
The term prebiotic is a relatively new, although the type of fiber they refer to has been around for ages. Prebiotic fiber is an indigestible form of fiber that acts as a good source of food for the ‘good’ bug flora in your gut. For a fiber to be classified as ‘prebiotic’ is must resist digestion and absorption in the upper gut, be fermented by intestinal microflora and stimulate the growth of ‘good’ bug flora.
Prebiotics exist both in particular foods and dietary supplements. Foods that contain prebiotics include: Bananas (the greener the better), garlic, onions, broccoli, and whole grain oats. Common prebiotics found in supplements include: Inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides or FOS, psyllium, and wheat dextrin.
Bottom line… Probiotics and prebiotics have a symbiotic relationship… they need each other. Together they are the cornerstone of good and balanced gut health. Because of the important link between healthy gut flora and our overall health, it’s clear that providing your body with both pre and pro ‘biotics’ is essential.
What are probiotics?
When you see a reference to ‘good’ gut flora or ‘good’ bugs in your gut, most of those remarks are referring to different types of ‘good’ bacteria – meaning they are good for your body’s health. Probiotics is the general term that includes most of those good bacteria.
As noted on the Mayo Clinic’s site: “Probiotics are good bacteria that are either the same as or very similar to the bacteria that are already in your body. Your lower digestive tract alone teems with a complex and diverse community of these bacteria. In fact, there are a greater number of bacteria in your intestines than there are cells in your body.”
Your intestines are also teeming with ‘bad’ bacteria (can cause harm and negative health related issues). Having too many of the “bad” and not enough of the “good” bacteria — often caused in part by an unhealthy diet — can wreak all sorts of havoc on your body’s health. As further noted on the Mayo Clinic’s website: “This imbalance can lead to weight gain, skin conditions, constipation or diarrhea, and various chronic health conditions.” The key is too have more of the ‘good’ guys than the ‘bad’.
Consuming foods rich in probiotics (some yogurts, some cheeses, kefir, sauerkraut and kimshi) and taking a probiotic supplement can help you increase your ‘good’ gut bugs and help keep the ‘bad’ ones at bay.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are many different types (strains) of probiotics, each with specific purposes. You need a good variety of different strains to help achieve a balanced and healthy gut flora. A variety of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species are the most common beneficial bacteria used in dietary supplements.