The two terms differ by only a single letter, yet there are significant differences. Many people confuse probiotics and prebiotics, but both are fundamentally important for health and overall well-being. While probiotics are live microorganisms, prebiotics are food for beneficial gut bacteria.

What are probiotics?

When it comes to what may be called probiotics, the World Health Organization has the following clear guidelines:

• Until consumption, the microorganisms must be live and stable.
• The food must be non-toxic or non-pathogenic.
• The living microorganisms must be suitable for industrial production.
• The microorganisms must not be destroyed by stomach acid or bile.
• There must be a health benefit to the product through consumption.

Probiotics are therefore beneficial microorganisms, mostly strains of bacteria, that can build up and restore the balance of the gut flora. They occur naturally in some foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, or cheese, or can be taken as ready-made supplements.

How do probiotics work?

In the human gut, bacteria and yeasts together form the gut flora, which, as part of the immune system, is of enormous importance for health. Probiotics can restore an imbalanced gut flora to a healthy balance, so that harmful microorganisms can no longer cause damage.

By taking probiotics, the proportion of beneficial bacteria and yeasts in the gut is increased. This suppresses harmful bacteria, restoring health and well-being.

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are dietary fibers that occur as indigestible substances in various foods. These include, for example, the sugar molecules oligofructose and inulin. Probiotics, primarily bifidobacteria, feed on the prebiotics and thus ensure their proliferation.

Prebiotics occur naturally in some foods such as artichokes, apples, onions, bananas, wheat, asparagus, chicory, garlic, and leeks. They can also be taken in the form of special supplements. Resistant starches from rice, pasta, and potatoes can also act as prebiotics in the body.

How do prebiotics work?

Prebiotics have no direct effect on your health; they can only indirectly contribute to building up the gut flora. By supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria, harmful microorganisms cannot spread further.

Furthermore, prebiotics are converted into short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which lowers the pH level and improves the body's absorption of minerals. In addition, prebiotics can also have a positive effect on digestion, as sufficient fiber intake helps prevent constipation and increases bowel movement frequency.

What are synbiotics?

Synbiotics are simply a combination of probiotics and prebiotics. These preparations supply the gut with beneficial microorganisms and simultaneously provide these little helpers with the necessary nutrients.

Thus, a synergistic effect typically arises from the simultaneous administration of probiotics and prebiotics. The beneficial gut bacteria profit from the increased nutrient supply and can multiply. Harmful germs, on the other hand, derive no benefit from this additional food source; they are merely reduced in number.

Difference between probiotics and prebiotics

The human gut teems with microorganisms, some beneficial and some harmful. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are introduced into the body through diet or special supplements. They colonize the gut and multiply there. A gut flora strengthened in this way is better able to ward off pathogenic germs.

To multiply, probiotics need appropriate nutrients, and that's where prebiotics come in. These are not live bacteria strains but dietary fibers that serve as a food source for the probiotics. Although there are differences between probiotics and prebiotics, both are extremely beneficial for the body.

Where can you buy probiotics and prebiotics?

You can naturally ingest probiotics and prebiotics through your diet. However, it is significantly easier and more reliable to take special supplements. These should be taken as part of a course of treatment over several weeks.

You can find probiotics and prebiotics in any pharmacy, as well as in a well-stocked drugstore. You can also conveniently order these products online. LactoLux, for example, is a particularly recommended probiotic.

What are probiotics and prebiotics used for?

Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle is often not good for our gut, as poor diet, nicotine, alcohol, and medications severely disrupt the gut flora. On the other hand, our diets are usually low in fiber, so the beneficial gut bacteria lack a food source.

First, gut health suffers, but ultimately the entire body and even mental health are affected. However, a healthy gut flora can be restored with the help of probiotics and prebiotics. This is because the gut is not only a digestive organ; the immune system also resides there. By taking probiotics and prebiotics, you are not only doing something good for your gut.

Benefits of probiotics & prebiotics

To maintain your health, you need to create a good foundation for a healthy gut with the help of probiotics and prebiotics. A strengthened gut has a positive effect on the immune system, making infections and inflammation less frequent.

Naturally, both also have a positive effect on the digestive system. Not only is digestion promoted, but the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can also be alleviated. Finally, gut health is also linked to mental health, so the intake of pre- and probiotics can also reduce depression and anxiety.

Conclusion

Probiotics and prebiotics cannot achieve anything on their own; only in combination can they be beneficial to health. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, in turn, require prebiotics, i.e., dietary fiber, to multiply. Therefore, the body depends on both to function properly.