Probiotics and prebiotics are both great for your health, but what is the difference and are they both necessary?

Between probiotics and prebiotics, most people have heard more about probiotics. They are those helpful little bacteria in your gut that keep your digestive system healthy by keeping the growth of harmful bacteria under control. But, what are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are carbohydrates that your body cannot digest and therefore, are used as food for probiotics. They have a give and take relationship and in order to maintain optimum health, you need both.

Where do you get probiotics and prebiotics?

The best way to get probiotics and prebiotics in your system is through foods that naturally contain them. As you may know, one of the best foods for consuming probiotics is yogurt. With so many different options on grocery store shelves today, you can easily find a brand and flavor that you love. Other great sources of probiotics include sauerkraut, and soft cheeses that have been fermented.

There are also great food sources for prebiotics. These include asparagus, oatmeal, legumes and bananas. Although there are no foods that contain both probiotics and prebiotics, you can easily include both in your meals. For example, a healthy, well-rounded breakfast of oatmeal with sliced banana and a side of yogurt would be a perfect combination of both! (And delicious, to say the least!)

How can I make sure I’m getting enough of both probiotics and prebiotics?

If you’re concerned with getting both probiotics and prebiotics together, you can always supplement your diet. There are a ton of great options of supplements that contain both, in ratios that work well to help your body use them for their maximum potential. But there are also a lot of probiotics out there that do not contain prebiotics and, consequently, will likely not be as effective. I have noticed this myself when using different probiotic supplements. I have also noticed that refrigerated brands are very effective, compared to most shelf-stable brands, but that is not always the case.

As with many supplements, it is often worth it to invest more financially into probiotics/prebiotics. However, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get useful nutrients. I have used the following brands and they have worked well for me without breaking the bank.