What are Probiotics and Prebiotics?

Putting it simply, probiotics are the good bacteria found in your gut (small and large intestine), while prebiotics are food your good bacteria needs. Probiotics are essential for keeping you healthy. They improve your vitality, support your immune system, help with digestion and keep the bad bacteria in balance.

Too much bad bacteria leads to poor digestion resulting in bloating, flatulence, constipation, and left unchecked, diarrhoea, inflammation and damage to the gut lining.

Bad bacteria can also affect your emotional health as they disrupt production of brain chemicals, like serotonin, which are made in the gut.

It is incredibly beneficial to eat probiotic and prebiotic rich foods on a regular basis.

Probiotic foods include plain yoghurt, kefir, miso, tempeh, kombucha tea, sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables. Even dark chocolate!

Prebiotic foods include oats, bananas, legumes, beans, peas, garlic, onions, tomatoes and green vegetables. They contain fibres that humans are unable to digest but good bacteria can, stimulating their growth and activity.

You can increase your probiotics with supplements (in capsule or powder form), but not all probiotic supplements are the same. Particular strains of bacteria benefit certain symptoms more than others, therefore it is important to consult a naturopath or nutritionist to find which ones are right for you.

Angela Westerman Naturopath | angela_westerman@icloud.com | 0414 674 324