Prebiotics vs. Probiotics: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to improving your gut health, prebiotics and probiotics are two essential digestive supplements worth knowing. But what exactly does each one do, and how do they keep your gut healthy and happy? We’re taking a look at how prebiotics and probiotics work together to help keep your gut microbiota in balance.

What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are essentially plant fibers that serve as food for probiotics, which are the good bacteria that live in your gut. Prebiotics help probiotic bacteria grow and multiply, and they’re sourced from all different types of carbohydrates that humans can’t digest — primarily in the form of fiber. 

The following foods are all great sources of prebiotics:

• Bananas
• Onions
• Garlic
• Berries
• Legumes
• Beans
• Peas
• Oats
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Asparagus
• Dandelion greens
• Leeks
• Apple skin
• Chicory root

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are the good bacteria found in your digestive system. These living bacterial strains actually help protect you from harmful bacteria and fungi while aiding in immune system functions and providing essential nutrition to the cells lining your digestive tract.

Probiotics can be found in the following foods:

• Miso soup
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Kombucha
• Kefir (dairy and non-dairy)
• Unpasteurized pickles and pickled vegetables

Fun Fact: Certain foods are actually considered synbiotic, which means they contain both probiotic bacteria and prebiotic fiber. A few examples of synbiotic foods include kefir, cheese and sauerkraut.

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics

The primary difference between pre and probiotics is that prebiotics fuel probiotics just like food fuels us. When we eat a nutritious diet, we help our bodies get the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Likewise, a diet rich in prebiotics and probiotics helps our gut flora or gut microbiota. Think of probiotic-rich foods as adding to your current supply of good bacteria, while prebiotic-rich foods help that good bacteria work harder for you.

How to Use Prebiotics and Probiotics for Better Digestive Health Support

Prebiotics and probiotics work together to help keep your gut flora in perfect harmony. An imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut can result in occasional gastrointestinal distress and stomach discomfort. Additionally, good bacteria (or probiotics) help support microbiome balance.

Digestive imbalances may occur from eating too much fat and sugar, which may fuel the bad bacteria in your gut. Taking prebiotic and probiotic supplements can help support your gut health.

Staying healthy year-round means upping your seasonal defense as needed. At Country Life, we carry a wide range of prebiotic and probiotic Gut Connection blends to support a healthy gut microbiome.∆

Shop Our Gut Connection Line

In Conclusion

Ultimately, prebiotics found in food and supplements help nourish probiotics, or good bacteria, found in your digestive tract. Eating a diet rich in prebiotics and probiotics helps you balance the good and bad bacteria in your digestive system for optimal gut health.

∆Based on results from a study using a dynamic model representing GI digestion.