probiotics vs. prebiotics: what they are, how they work together & why you need both!
gut health is becoming more recognized in the health and fitness space, with everyone establishing habits to keep their gut as on-point as possible. we love to see this since the gut controls so many of our body’s processes, like absorption of nutrients, hormone production, immune system support, and metabolism regulation.
on your own journey to optimize gut health, you may have heard of probiotics or prebiotics. at first, it can be super confusing to understand these and how they work in our gut microbiome. we’re diving into the difference between these, how to identify them, how they relate to each other, and why you’ll benefit from both.
first, let’s start by defining each:
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probiotics are strains of bacteria found in food or supplements that help improve the overall health of our microbiome.
- sources: greek yogurt, kefir, fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
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prebiotics come in the form of fiber found in foods. probiotics feed on prebiotics, so prebiotics provide the resources for probiotics to grow and thrive in the gut.
- sources: garlic, onions, chicory root, asparagus, bananas, oats, apples, flaxseed.
so, these both work hand in hand and are necessary for a healthy gut! a healthy gut means decreased bloating, regular bowel movements, better digestion, and glowing skin. since the gut controls hormone production, it also means happy hormones! when probiotics are introduced to heal our gut, hormone production regulates which improves mood, energy, sleep, and body composition. specifically, lactobacillus and bifidobacterium probiotic blends are shown to provide positive effects on stress levels, anxiety, and fatigue.
pro & prebiotics are amazing for our gut, but it can be challenging to get in enough just through food alone. several probiotics also contain dairy, which many people have a hard time digesting.
beam’s gut health probiotic+ is vegan, contains 10 billion CFUs and 8 probiotic strains. with the addition of ginger, licorice root, and digestive enzymes in one capsule it’s a super convenient way to make sure your gut is in the best condition! this also includes lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains to help with symptoms of stress and anxiety.
for those prebiotics, beam’s super greens product is packed with ingredients like apple, flaxseed and garlic clove concentrate to ensure you’ve got what you need to fuel the probiotics. delicious flavors like pink lemonade and chocolate make it a tasty way to get in those nutrients!
cheers to a healthy gut 😊
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