Prebiotic vs. Probiotic
The human body is full of bacteria – billions of them, actually, in order for it to stay healthy. In the intestines, one will find the biggest population of good bacteria. These bacteria provide several benefits to one’s health and orderly bodily functions. For example, bacteria help in the digestion of food. Good bacteria are also useful in the processing of Vitamin K that can be acquired from the food a person is eating. If the bacteria from the intestines get upset or disrupted, a person can experience difficulty in digestion as well as issues with gastrointestinal processes. To avoid these problems and consistently maintain the good and healthy bacteria present in the intestine, taking probiotic and prebiotic supplements will definitely help.
There are actually lots of questions about these two. Which one is more effective and much better? Is it possible to take the one and ignore the other? Since probiotics were discovered many years ago and experts told people that they were healthy for everyone, many people have taken them in yogurt, beverages, and food products that claim that they contain probiotic supplements. And then people started to hear about the benefits of prebiotics found in pills and certain food items. Prebiotics and probiotics may sound similar but these two are different things offering healthy benefits to the body.
Probiotics
Probiotics basically means ‘live microorganisms’, as defined by World Health Organization. These live microorganisms, when ingested in ample amounts, can actually grant several benefits to the host or to one’s body. To explain further, a probiotic is a remedial or restorative agent that can be taken in the form of a food, capsule, pill, or powder. It is necessary to take note that these live microorganisms are not synonymous with ‘good bacteria’, which can refer to the ones that are already living inside one’s body, particularly in the intestines.
Prebiotics
Unlike probiotics, prebiotics are not included in the list of good bacteria for the body. Prebiotics are not live microorganisms. Instead, prebiotics are nutrients that feed the healthy bacteria in one’s body. Prebiotics are healthy and nutritious food every person needs to eat so that it can be guaranteed that the good bacteria are the ones feeding and not the bad bacteria. By ensuring that good bacteria are well-fed, the body also remains healthy, performing its functions and processes properly. With prebiotics, there can be an increase in the immune activities of the body as well as an improvement in mineral absorption. It also helps to balance the digestive system and prevent bowel disorders. Prebiotics also help in ensuring a healthy heart.
There are many foods and supplements known to be rich in probiotics and prebotics; they help to augment the growth of healthy and good microorganisms inside the body. The concept of using bacteria to improve one’s health was already present centuries ago but it is only now that people have really started to take the benefits of bactiera seriously. Nowadays, many people from around the world are using products with prebiotics and probiotics, especially to prevent gastrointestinal problems.
Summary:
Probiotics are basically ‘live microorganisms’, as defined by World Health Organization. Unlike probiotics, prebiotics are not included in the list of good bacteria for the body. They is not live microorganisms.
A probiotic is a remedial or restorative agent that can be taken in the form of a food, capsule, pill, or powder. On the other hand, prebiotics are nutrients that feed the healthy bacteria in one’s body. Prebiotics are healthy and nutritious food every person needs to eat so that it can be guaranteed that the good bacteria are the ones feeding and not the bad bacteria.