Pre and Pro Biotics: Alone or together, which is best?

During a recent conversation, pre and pro biotics came up, the question was asked what they were, more importantly, how should they be eaten. It was mentioned that to get true benefit from pre and probiotics they should be eaten together, the question was why?

What are pre and pro biotics and what is the difference between the two?

• Probiotics: Increase the number of helpful bacteria, and inhibiting harmful bacteria, which helps strengthen the body’s immune response.
• Prebiotics: Assist the absorption of bone-building minerals like calcium and magnesium due to the way they are digested but more importantly they work to “feed” for these beneficial probiotic bacteria, enhancing their activity.

The simple definition certainly helps explain what role each plays in digestion and how, when eaten together, they work in unison helping you to get maximum benefit from their combined activity, lets looks at Pre and ProBiotics in more detail.

Probiotics:

Source: Yogurts, fermented and unfermented milk, tempah, miso and/or in supplement form (powders/capsules), they also might be added to nutritional bars, cereals, meal replacement drinks and other food sources.

According to a WebMD article:  the gut is host to between 400-500 varieties of bacteria, working synergistically to break down food and keep intestinal linings healthy, also building the immune system. There are many studies that discuss the belief that intestinal disorders can arise when the balance of bacteria is disturbed. This disturbance might be from antibiotic use or when the lining of the intestine is damaged.

Many people live in a clean and hygienic environment, this is a very good thing of course, however we are limiting our exposure to build our response to harmful bacteria. Ingesting probiotics helps us, in a healthy way, to build a better defense system against these harmful bacteria.

A panel of experts, from Yale University, have discussed the benefits of ProBiotics, specifically what their health benefits might be like: Acute childhood diarrhea, antibiotic associated diarrhea, inflammation following intestinal surgery.

Also according to WebMD:

“A study published in 2010 suggests that probiotics may decrease the risk of common childhood problems such as ear infections, strep throat, colds, and diarrhea illness. The study included 638 children aged 3 to 6 in day care centers/schools. The children who drank a yogurt drink containing a probiotic were 19% less likely to come down with a common infection.”

There are concerns however, people with a weakened immune systems or suffering with severe pancreatitis should not consume increased amounts of probiotics. Studies on the elderly and children concerning probiotic use are still being done to determine their safety and effectiveness.

Click the following link to read the full WebMD article titled, “What are ProBiotics?”

There is another, more indepth, article on ProBiotics on Medicine.net that you might also be interested in reading.

PreBiotics:

Source: Natural foods like whole grains, berries, chicory, dairy products, greens, legumes, almonds, honey, onions, bananas, garlic, leeks, and artichokes. ProBiotics are also added to consumable products or can be found in supplement form.

PreBiotics are a non digestible nutrients, soluble fiber, that feed the bacteria(s) that live within the intestine, prebiotics help keep the probiotics healthy and thriving. The fibers in carbohydrates, called oligosaccharides, which are not digested, help stimulate the growth of beneficial bacterias.

For more information on prebiotics: wikipedia.org/Prebiotics

Another very interesting read on prebiotics can be found at: Marks Daily Apple

Eating both pre and probiotics together helps each to flourish in the intestinal system plus it helps you reach maximum benefits. Serve yourself a bowl of yogurt with berries and granola, perhaps a bit of honey and you will certainly be on the road to fueling a healthy environment in your gut. Not only is this a great breakfast but also makes a wonderful snack or dessert.. bon a petit.

Consult your physician before using pre or probiotics to be sure these products will not contradict any conditions or medications you may have or be taking.