What is Pre biotic

What is prebiotic? I think you have heard of probiotics which are very famous today to help in keeping a healthy bowel system and its proved anti-aging properties. The live probiotic bacteria are easy to be found in dairy products such as yogurt. But there is prebiotic which is found on the skin of apples, bananas, chicory roots, garlic onions, whole grain, berries and beans.

Prebiotic is not probiotic

Prebiotic is a special form of dietary fibre and they are not affected by heat, acid and time. Prebiotics nourish the probiotic (good bacteria) that everyone already has in the gut and serve as fertilizer for their growth. It is easy to add the prebiotic fiber supplement to our diet as it is fast and simple and they are tasteless. Besides providing the nutrients to probiotics to grow and thrive, prebiotic also may help in boosting immune system, and lowering the risk of cancer.

Good Sources of Prebiotic and Probiotic Food

Examples of Probiotics and Prebiotics
Class/ComponentSource*Potential Benefit
Probiotics
Certain species and strains
of Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria,
Yeast		Certain yogurts, other cultured
dairy products,
and non-dairy applications		May improve gastrointestinal health
and systemic immunity
Prebiotics
Inulin, Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS),
Polydextrose, Arabinogalactan,
Polyols—lactulose, lactitol		Whole grains, onions, bananas,
garlic, honey, leeks, artichokes,
fortified foods and beverages,
dietary supplements
and other food applications		May improve gastrointestinal health;
May improve calcium absorption
Chart adapted from International Food Information Council Foundation: Media Guide on Food Safety and Nutrition: 2004-2006.
*Examples are not an all-inclusive list

Prebiotic Effects

Because of the nature of prebiotic which is non-digestible therefore it can reach the intestine to give positive prebiotic effect. This effect stimulates growth and increases the activities of probiotics hence increase the resistance towards to pathogen. Additionally it can increase the metabolic activities to give improvement on our health. The special effects are so good that the product of combination of prebiotic and probiotic is developed, called as Synbiotic to confer advantages to human health.