Gut Health- prebiotics

Gut health series continues!  Today is PRE-BIOTICs.  Not to be confused with PRO-biotics.  
Pre-biotics are not baby probiotics, but the things that probiotics eat to grow and flourish!

Our bacteria in our bodies will eat almost anything, but our health bacteria will grow exponentially with the right food!  Kind of like people- we can live off McDonalds, Burger King or other bad choices, but we will do amazing if we have fresh fruits and vegetables and clean foods.   Different bacteria also tend to prefer certain prebiotics according to science!  Getting the fibers that will improve the growth of beneficial bacteria will help people reach their health goals and get the most out of both their probiotics and prebiotics. 

Good news for all- most of these prebiotics foods are also healthy for us!  They are usually fiber filled foods that help with roughage and keep our digestive tract moving through the fiber and by feeding the good bacteria.   Some examples of prebiotic foods are bananas, asparagus, onions, and garlic.  Sometimes supplements will add specific fibers to get some of these prebiotic health benefits in their products.  Just like picking the right foods, picking the right prebiotic supplements will help you reach your health goals. 

Some of the potential health benefits include reduction of illness, reduce colon cancer risk, can help with healthy weight, and can help absorption of our minerals that we’re eating.   A happy, healthy digestive system can change our whole lives and make such a difference in disease and our ability to fight off illness. 

There are some people who need to approach prebiotics with caution.  Some people with irritable bowel syndrome must be careful to not start high doses of prebiotics all at once- their gut may not adjust well, and they could have some serious bathroom time coming!   This doesn’t mean they can not take prebiotics, they just need to be selective and start with small amounts and adjust to their body’s needs.  People with irritable bowel syndrome or other stomach problems need healing and could benefit from supplementation, but also need to listen to what their body tells them. 

In overview- if you take a probiotic, you want to make sure you feed it with prebiotics to get the best results!  Look for the right prebiotics for your stomach and what will feed the bacteria that you want to help.   Systems with scientifically studied ingredients can help this process be less complicated, but feeding it with extra, healthy food will also help.  There are some major health benefits to be reaped by probiotics and prebiotic use- just do some homework on making sure you get the best for your body. 

Blessings in Health and Happiness