Probiotics and prebiotics have been an exploding topic in the nutrition world lately. So what are they? Probiotics are live cultures which can be found naturally in the body and are considered good bacteria for gut health. There are various species of live cultures that are found in foods such as yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and dark chocolate to name a few. Lactobacillus is one species commonly found in yogurt which produces the enzyme lactase. Lactase is needed to help break down lactose in the small intestine. Those who are lactose intolerant can sometimes tolerate yogurt better than cow’s milk because of this. Other species of probiotics include Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, and Streptococcus. Different strains of these species can potentially help ease symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), improve bowel regularity, and can be used to reintroduce good bacteria after antibiotic use. Prebiotics are non-digestible food sources found in bananas, asparagus, artichokes, onions, and garlic just to name a few. These foods can promote good bacteria to flourish in the intestines that can help improve gastrointestinal health. To put it more simply, prebiotics are a food for probiotics to improve gut health.
Research shows probiotics can help protect individuals from acquiring a C. diff (Clostridium Difficile) infection after antibiotic use. C. diff is an infectious diarrhea which is typically seen in elderly and hospitalized patients and is considered contagious. Frequent antibiotic use is known to be the biggest risk factor in acquiring a C. diff infection. That doesn’t mean stop taking your antibiotics as they are important to help your body heal the infection. Other medications which can increase risk of a C. diff infection include proton-pump inhibitors used for frequent heartburn such as omeprazole. Making sure you consume prebiotics and probiotics may decrease you risk of getting an infection with any of these medications.
If you find it difficult to include probiotic foods into your diet, you may benefit from a probiotic supplement. There are many different brands out there from ones that are best for general health to brands which help with IBS symptoms. Choosing the right supplement can be a daunting task. This review on probiotics can help make it easier to determine the best one for you.
Here’s to a healthy gut!