Prebiotics are a source of food for probiotics to grow, multiply and survive in the gut. Prebiotic organisms cannot be absorbed or broken down by the body and therefore serve as a great food source for the Bifidobacteria genus of probiotics in particular to increase in numbers. Prebiotics are hence thought to be beneficial, as research shows that having higher probiotic levels helps maintain normal digestion, good immunity and balanced energy levels.
Prebiotics are officially defined as: “a non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, which can improve host health.”
Prebiotics occur naturally in our diet and prebiotic fibres can be found in Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, garlic, chicory, asparagus, onions and leeks amongst other things. However, one would have to eat large quantities of these food-stuffs to have a ‘bifidogenic’ effect – that is to increase the levels of friendly bacteria in our intestines. Instead, many people find it easier to take a prebiotic supplement, or a combination probiotic & prebiotic supplement (called a synbiotic) to ensure they are feeding their levels of friendly bacteria.
Research shows that there are different types of prebiotics in a similar manner as there are different types of probiotics. With prebiotics, the key difference lies in the length of chemical chain – short chain; medium chain or long chain determines where in the gastrointestinal tract it has its effect & how the benefits are felt by the host.
Common prebiotics include: inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), lactulose and lafinose.
Within the OptiBac range, the prebiotic FOS can be found in For daily wellbeing, For a flat stomach, & For your child’s health. Fructo-oligosaccharides prebiotics are low molecular weight carbohydrates which only promote growth of probiotics – generally Bifidobacteria. These prebiotics absolutely do not promote the growth of any pathogens.
TO NOTE: In some cases, prebiotics can cause minor disturbance / flatulence in the first few days of taking them… but after 3-4 days of continued use (once the intestines have adapted to the prebiotics) this discomfort tends to disappear, and positive results are experienced.
