What Are Prebiotics and What Do They Do?

Prebiotics: the food source of a healthy gut.

Sauerkraut is a classic fermented food that contains prebiotics.

Prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber that provide many benefits to the body, including improved digestion and gut health. Prebiotics are an important part of a healthy diet, as they help the body absorb nutrients and support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. In this post, we will explore prebiotics, their benefits, and how they can be incorporated into your daily diet.

What are Prebiotic Foods?

Prebiotics are special plant fibers that help promote gut health by supporting the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. They are found in fiber-rich plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. These generally plant-based foods contain a special kind of fiber called nondigestible fermentable carbohydrates. Eating prebiotic-rich foods can help keep your digestive system working properly. Kimchi, fermented foods, and other probiotic foods are rich sources of prebiotics. Studies have shown that eating these kinds of foods can improve digestion, support overall gut health, and even boost your immune system.

Kimchi contains both prebiotics & probiotics.

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics are two important elements in promoting gut health. While both help maintain a healthy gut, they do so differently.

Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that provide food for the healthy bacteria that live in the lower digestive tract. These prebiotics act as a fertilizer to help these bacteria grow and flourish. Eating foods such as bananas, onions, garlic, and oats provide these prebiotics to your body.

Probiotics, on the other hand, are living microorganisms that also promote gut health. Unlike prebiotics, these can be taken as supplements or obtained through fermented foods and drinks such as kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, kombucha, and water kefir. Consuming these foods helps to introduce beneficial bacteria into your gut which in turn improves digestion and overall gut health.

Ultimately, the difference here is that prebiotics are the food that living probiotics need to survive.

How can I get Prebiotics into my diet?

Incorporating or boosting prebiotics into your diet is as simple as upping your daily intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, which coincide with an overall healthy diet. Adding fermented foods and drinks to your diet is the next step. The good news is making probiotic-rich food and drink is easy, and we have all the recipes and resources to get you going.

Get started; here are a few ideas to help get you going.

DIY Fermented Food Recipes

DIY Fermented Drinks

What Is Kimchi and Why You Should Eat It Kimchi: a probiotic-rich fermented Korean staple. What Is Kimchi? Kimchi is a traditional, slightly spicy Korean sauerkraut made from lacto-fermented vegetables like napa [...]

What Are Prebiotics and What Do They Do? Prebiotics: the food source of a healthy gut. Prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber that provide many benefits to the body, including [...]

Fermented Ketchup Recipe A sweet and tangy condiment that lingers in the fridge of almost every household. Ketchup is a condiment that takes up space at almost every table [...]

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Fermented Chili Pepper Hot Sauce Recipe Spiced with cayenne peppers, bell peppers, fresh garlic cloves, and shallots, this recipe creates the perfect tangy hot sauce to add to any meal. [...]

30-Minute Mozzarella Cheese Recipe This classic Southern Italian cheese's milky sweetness pairs perfectly with fresh vegetables, pizza, and just about anything else. Mozzarella is one of the most versatile cheeses [...]