Amanda is a prolific writer on health and lifestyle for national magazines – as well as Editor of UK Health Radio and contributor to the Jeremy Vine show.
In general the idea behind probiotics is well understood but there is still some confusion around prebiotics. The truth is that there are important differences between them and that includes the health benefits that they offer.
What’s a Probiotic?
Probiotics are the live bacteria that are found in some yoghurts and in other products too, such as dairy. They can also be taken as a supplement or in tablet form.
They’re the ‘good’ bacteria that there’s an increasing amount of evidence suggesting they can really help with digestive health and the multitude of assorted problems poor gut health can bring.
While there’s lots of on-going lab and field-based research going on to try and identify exactly what conditions probiotics can help with, we do know that probiotics play an important role in good health.
For example, you might also find a doctor who’s prescribed antibiotics for a patient recommending a course of probiotics too. This is because probiotics can offer a protective effect on the gastrointestinal system while antibiotics are being taken.
Their use in this respect has been proven but the fact is that they do not have the power that is offered by the prebiotic. That is because the probiotic is susceptible to heat and to the ravages of stomach acid that can make them ineffective even before they have been digested.
Another drawback is that for those who are allergic to or dislike dairy foods, getting enough probiotic by that means will be difficult – although capsules are available.
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And what’s a Prebiotic?
The short answer is that a prebiotic is derived from a specialised plant fiber that nourishes the good bacteria that occur in everyone’s colon and large intestine.
The difference is that where probiotics actually introduce the good bacteria to our guts, the prebiotic acts as a fertiliser and a boost to the naturally occurring good bacteria that are already present, helping them flourish and improving the ratio of good to bad bacteria. And that balance is very important as the ratio of good to bad bacteria is known to have a significant effect on everything from the stomach to the brain; and offer a boost to general health too.
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Probiotics vs. Prebiotics
The plant fibres contained in prebiotics are not digested by our bodies whereas probiotics are. And some people who take prebiotics daily have reported that they suffer less from stress, depression and anxiety.
Probiotics can be destroyed by the body and can be affected by heat, but some of the probiotic species have been proven helpful in a range of treatments including childhood diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome and for recurrence of specific bowel infections like c. difficile. Prebiotics are a lot more hardy, being resistant to heat or bacterial corruption and can be used as a powder that is easy to keep that’s unaffected by acid, cold, heat or time.
Can Probiotics and Prebiotics be Taken Together?
Yes, taking probiotics and prebiotics together is fine and in particular prebiotics do not interfere with other medications. The advice is that if you want to take both together, then ensure you take high-quality products.
There is no doubt that there will be devotees of both pro and prebiotics who swear by them. I guess like any supplement, the proof of the pudding is quite literally in the eating. If you try one and it helps with your particular symptom(s) then you’ll probably want to carry on taking it.
As with any supplement that you might think of trying, it’s always going to be worth seeing your doctor first to discuss your symptoms and the reason that you might be considering taking probiotics or prebiotics.
