Nowadays, people are paying more attention to their health. Consequently, there are more interesting updates and discoveries.
Take prebiotics and probiotics for example. The trend on improving digestive health to attain an overall well-being has caught on. These two health terms are becoming more and more popular and, lately, more controversial.
Let’s take a brief look into similarities and differences that will help people decide what’s best for them.
Prebiotics are very special forms of dietary fiber. It nourishes the good bacteria as it enters the colon. These good bacteria, species under Bifidobacter and Lactobacilli families bring numerous benefits because of its good effects on the intestines.
Probiotics are made up of living organisms, specifically bacteria. These are actually the same bacteria found in the colon that are sustained by prebiotics. However, probiotics have a few of these bacteria, as compared to hundreds found in a healthy colon.
Prebiotics are not easily damaged by time, temperature, or acidity. On the other hand, probiotics must be kept alive until it reaches the colon for its benefit to take effect. Thus, probiotics are refrigerated to sustain life and avoid extreme changes in temperature. Bacteria can also be destroyed by acid.
Prebiotics are found naturally in many plant species. Bacteria in probiotics are found in fermented food like yogurt and sauerkraut. The process of pasteurizing these food products may have killed even the beneficial bacteria, so the probiotic bacteria may have been added afterward.
The action of prebiotics in nourishing the beneficial bacteria in the colon causes these bacteria to create Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFAs). These SCFAs cause a slightly acidic environment in the colon that is favorable to the good bacteria but reduces the growth of the bad bacteria, which prefer basic to alkaline environment. There is, however, insufficient research that shows if probiotics also produce SCFAs.
Extensive research is done to support the benefits of both providing updates on new discoveries. These are done in research-oriented universities with state-of-the-art facilities.
To experience the full benefits of both prebiotics and probiotics, it should be taken in sufficient quantities. Getting the optimum effect does not mean taking more than what one needs. Prebiotic and probiotic supplements should also show the exact relevant content to provide consumers enough information about their choice of product.
The craze for probiotic food or supplements may have scientific basis and benefits, however its trend has overshadowed the fact that these benefits are not as sufficient as it may seem.
Based on the above comparison and contrast, prebiotics function well in areas where probiotics are lacking. The natural characteristic of prebiotics is even healthier, more convenient, and more effective than probiotics.
Prebiotic supplements deliver better health benefits in the long run, without the risks of compromising the product itself. A good knowledge of improving the health in a more natural way through prebiotics is really worth discovering so check out more information and guidelines about prebiotic supplements at online resources.