Probiotics + Prebiotics: What They Are And How They Work
Before Greek yogurt captured everyone’s attention, there was a time that yogurt with probiotics was the healthy snack of preference. Gut health, however, has not waned in importance even if advertisements for it aren’t as prevalent as they once were.
As it turns out, gut health impacts more than a person’s digestive system. A balance or equilibrium of bacteria in the gut leads to optimal digestive, coronary, endocrine and neurological health. The goal of a probiotics regimen is to boost healthy gut bacteria so it can outpace the production of unhealthy gut bacteria and keep things balanced.
Maintaining a Healthy Gut Microbiome
Researchers have found or suspect that an abundance of unhealthy gut bacteria can lead to a higher probability of developing chronic digestive conditions such as Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome. There’s also evidence to suggest that excess unhealthy gut bacteria could contribute to heart and kidney disease, impact brain processes and influence emotions.
Another condition associated with an imbalance of bacteria in the gut is referred to as SIBO, which stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. At Ethos Integrative Medicine, Dr. Michael Kolotinsky has extensive experience working with patients who are navigating SIBO, which is a common gastrointestinal disorder that can be under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed due to its non-specific and overlapping symptoms.
As an integrative practice focused on delivering results for patients, we commit ourselves to finding solutions that work for individual patients — since responses to treatments may vary from person to person. However, any conversation related to balancing gut bacteria pretty predictably includes probiotics and sometimes prebiotics. Here are a few things to know about what they are and how they work.
Probiotics
Live microorganisms that can be consumed or applied to the body, probiotics are often found in fermented foods, yogurts, supplements and beauty products. Probiotics can help digest food, produce vitamins or eliminate harmful cells that cause disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, they have the potential to positively impact the body’s immune defense, repair an unhealthy gut environment and produce vitamins or substances that have positive effects.
Prebiotics
Found in foods like whole grains, garlic, soybeans, bananas and greens, prebiotics in essence “feed” the good bacteria found in the gut. Prebiotics are dietary fibers that aren’t digested by the body and serve as nutrients for the healthy gut bacteria. They can be found naturally in some foods, they can be added to some foods and they are available as a dietary supplement. Some studies have shown that prebiotics positively impacts bone health, and as states previously, a healthy, balanced gut can lead to improvements in digestive health, immune response and other benefits.
At Ethos Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, our team of specialists takes a novel approach to healthcare to achieve the results patients deserve. Interested in learning more about gut health? Ask questions during an introductory call with us!
