The Probiotic & Prebiotic Partnership

It seems like probiotics and prebiotics have become very popular these days. And rightly so! The health benefits they offer your gut, gastrointestinal tract, digestive system, and immune system are undeniable. Which is also the reason we’ve been using them both in our NatureM.D. supplements for years now.

But what’s the difference between probiotics and prebiotics? Here’s a hint: The difference is much bigger than one little letter. That’s the topic I want to discuss with you now. Without getting too science-y, I’m going to explain what probiotics and prebiotics are, what they do, and how they both work together to improve your digestive health.

What are Probiotics and Prebiotics?

Let’s start with the basics first.

What are Probiotics? Probiotics are living microorganisms that help your gut create more of the good bacteria it needs to not only digest food better, but to keep your whole digestive system running properly. And a healthy digestive system also supports your immune system, brain function, mood, and a whole lot more. Probiotics are usually acquired by eating fermented foods (like sauerkraut or kombucha), cultured foods (like yogurt and kefir), or taking probiotic supplements (including our own Synbiotic 365).

What are Prebiotics? Prebiotics are fibers and dense food compounds found in foods like beans, peas, garlic, onions, chicory root, bananas, and asparagus. They offer a whole host of health benefits to your system. They’re also typically harder to digest than other foods, which is actually a good thing for your gut — because those prebiotics can travel further down into your lower digestive tract, where they are needed. Which leads us to….

How They Work Together

Probiotic microorganisms feed on the prebiotic fibers down in your digestive tract. It’s like high-octane fuel for them. And when those probiotics get charged up with all that prebiotic energy, they’re able to get your body to create more of the good gut bacteria it needs to fight the bad bacteria — to maintain and even improve that delicate balance in your gut microbiome.

Imagine probiotics being the car, and prebiotics being the gas that makes the car run.

Both are great for gut health. But when their powers are combined, they become even stronger.

The Perfect Way to Get Both Probiotics and Prebiotics

At NatureM.D., we’ve known for quite some time how important the combination of these two ingredients is to your health. That’s why we’ve created a unique product that does just that — combine the best clinically proven strains of probiotics with some of the finest natural prebiotics in the world.