Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFunctionEffectsFood SourcesSupplementsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Function
Effects
Food Sources
Supplements
Frequently Asked Questions
Research shows that gut health significantly impacts overall well-being.You can support your gut health usingprebiotics,probiotics, andpostbiotics. Each serves a different yet collaborative purpose in encouraging good bacteria to thrive in yourdigestive system.
This article discusses the differences between prebiotics and probiotics, their effects on gut health, and the best sources of each.
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How Your Gut Flora Affects Your Health
Function of Prebiotics vs. Probiotics
Effect on Gut Health
Poor gut health can manifest as changes in bowel habits and symptoms likebloatingandabdominal discomfort. Left unmanaged, it can increase the risk for other chronic conditions.Therefore, supporting your gut health is one of the best things you can do to encourage long-term wellness.
The collaborative relationship between prebiotics and probiotics results in postbiotics. Though postbiotics are relatively new to the digestive health conversation, they are thought to offer benefits to gut and immune health. Still, more research on their specific activities is necessary.
Prebiotics and probiotics are naturally occurring in several foods you may already eat.
You can find prebiotics in foods like:
You can find probiotics in fermented foods such as:
The Surprising Health Benefits of Fermented Foods
Probiotic Supplements: What to Look For
There’s no shortage of probiotic supplements to choose from. Looking for one can be a little overwhelming, but keep these tips in mind when selecting the best probiotic supplement for your goals.
What Should You Know About Probiotics?
Summary
Over the years, prebiotics and probiotics have garnered attention in the health and wellness industry. To thrive in your digestive system, prebiotics act as fertilizer for probiotics or good gut bacteria. The relationship between them also results in postbiotics, a newcomer to the gut health conversation that may also have benefits to offer. Consider a prebiotic and probiotic supplement or add some natural food sources to your diet to improve your gut health.
Frequently Asked QuestionsProbiotics and prebiotics are different from one another but work together for your benefit. Though probiotics are the good living bacteria in your gut, prebiotics act as the food that helps them thrive. In either supplemental or food form, prebiotics and probiotics work together to help support your gut.Learn MoreWhat Are Prebiotics?Prebiotics and probiotics are often sold together as a single supplement. Taking them at the same time is sometimes called microbiome therapy. Though probiotics will work without prebiotics, using them together may improve how well the probiotics work. Prebiotics on their own may not offer many benefits.Learn MoreWhat Are Probiotics?Probiotics may help good gut bacteria thrive and drive out harmful gut bacteria, which improves stool consistency for some people.Certain strains, likeBifidobacterium lactis,Lactobacillus plantarum, andStreptococcus thermophilus, have the most evidence for supporting healthy bowel habits.If constipation is ongoing or does not improve, speak with your healthcare provider.Learn MoreNatural Constipation Remedies
Probiotics and prebiotics are different from one another but work together for your benefit. Though probiotics are the good living bacteria in your gut, prebiotics act as the food that helps them thrive. In either supplemental or food form, prebiotics and probiotics work together to help support your gut.Learn MoreWhat Are Prebiotics?
Probiotics and prebiotics are different from one another but work together for your benefit. Though probiotics are the good living bacteria in your gut, prebiotics act as the food that helps them thrive. In either supplemental or food form, prebiotics and probiotics work together to help support your gut.
Learn MoreWhat Are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics and probiotics are often sold together as a single supplement. Taking them at the same time is sometimes called microbiome therapy. Though probiotics will work without prebiotics, using them together may improve how well the probiotics work. Prebiotics on their own may not offer many benefits.Learn MoreWhat Are Probiotics?
Prebiotics and probiotics are often sold together as a single supplement. Taking them at the same time is sometimes called microbiome therapy. Though probiotics will work without prebiotics, using them together may improve how well the probiotics work. Prebiotics on their own may not offer many benefits.
Learn MoreWhat Are Probiotics?
Probiotics may help good gut bacteria thrive and drive out harmful gut bacteria, which improves stool consistency for some people.Certain strains, likeBifidobacterium lactis,Lactobacillus plantarum, andStreptococcus thermophilus, have the most evidence for supporting healthy bowel habits.If constipation is ongoing or does not improve, speak with your healthcare provider.Learn MoreNatural Constipation Remedies
Probiotics may help good gut bacteria thrive and drive out harmful gut bacteria, which improves stool consistency for some people.Certain strains, likeBifidobacterium lactis,Lactobacillus plantarum, andStreptococcus thermophilus, have the most evidence for supporting healthy bowel habits.If constipation is ongoing or does not improve, speak with your healthcare provider.
Learn MoreNatural Constipation Remedies
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.de Vos WM, Tilg H, Van Hul M, Cani PD.Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights.Gut. 2022;71(5):1020-1032. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326789Wegh CAM, Geerlings SY, Knol J, et al.Postbiotics and their potential applications in early life nutrition and beyond.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(19):4673.Kechagia M, Basoulis D, Konstantopoulou S, et al.Health benefits of probiotics: a review.ISRN Nutr. 2013;2013:481651. Published 2013 Jan 2. doi:10.5402/2013/481651Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92. Published 2019 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/foods8030092Cleveland Clinic,Probiotics.Hosseinkhani F, Heinken A, Thiele I, et al.The contribution of gut bacterial metabolites in the human immune signaling pathway of non-communicable diseases.Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/19490976.2021.1882927Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: definition, types, sources, mechanisms, and clinical applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92.Park M, Joung M, Park JH, et al.Role of postbiotics in diet-induced metabolic disorders.Nutrients. 2022;14(18):3701. Published 2022 Sep 7. doi:10.3390/nu14183701Żółkiewicz J, Marzec A, Ruszczyński M, Feleszko W.Postbiotics-a step beyond pre- and probiotics.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2189. Published 2020 Jul 23. doi:10.3390/nu12082189National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics.World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines.Probiotics and prebiotics.Sabaté JM, Iglicki F.Effect ofBifidobacterium longum35624 on disease severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2022;28(7):732-744.Marinova VY, Rasheva IK, Kizheva YK, et al.Microbiological quality of probiotic dietary supplements.Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2019;33:1, 834-841.Shi LH, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, et al.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res.2016;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021Yoon JY, Cha JM, Oh JK, et al.Probiotics ameliorate stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Dig Dis Sci. 2018;63(10):2754-2764. doi:10.1007/s10620-018-5139-8Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, et al.The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100(4):1075-1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.de Vos WM, Tilg H, Van Hul M, Cani PD.Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights.Gut. 2022;71(5):1020-1032. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326789Wegh CAM, Geerlings SY, Knol J, et al.Postbiotics and their potential applications in early life nutrition and beyond.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(19):4673.Kechagia M, Basoulis D, Konstantopoulou S, et al.Health benefits of probiotics: a review.ISRN Nutr. 2013;2013:481651. Published 2013 Jan 2. doi:10.5402/2013/481651Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92. Published 2019 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/foods8030092Cleveland Clinic,Probiotics.Hosseinkhani F, Heinken A, Thiele I, et al.The contribution of gut bacterial metabolites in the human immune signaling pathway of non-communicable diseases.Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/19490976.2021.1882927Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: definition, types, sources, mechanisms, and clinical applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92.Park M, Joung M, Park JH, et al.Role of postbiotics in diet-induced metabolic disorders.Nutrients. 2022;14(18):3701. Published 2022 Sep 7. doi:10.3390/nu14183701Żółkiewicz J, Marzec A, Ruszczyński M, Feleszko W.Postbiotics-a step beyond pre- and probiotics.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2189. Published 2020 Jul 23. doi:10.3390/nu12082189National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics.World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines.Probiotics and prebiotics.Sabaté JM, Iglicki F.Effect ofBifidobacterium longum35624 on disease severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2022;28(7):732-744.Marinova VY, Rasheva IK, Kizheva YK, et al.Microbiological quality of probiotic dietary supplements.Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2019;33:1, 834-841.Shi LH, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, et al.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res.2016;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021Yoon JY, Cha JM, Oh JK, et al.Probiotics ameliorate stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Dig Dis Sci. 2018;63(10):2754-2764. doi:10.1007/s10620-018-5139-8Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, et al.The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100(4):1075-1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
de Vos WM, Tilg H, Van Hul M, Cani PD.Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights.Gut. 2022;71(5):1020-1032. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326789Wegh CAM, Geerlings SY, Knol J, et al.Postbiotics and their potential applications in early life nutrition and beyond.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(19):4673.Kechagia M, Basoulis D, Konstantopoulou S, et al.Health benefits of probiotics: a review.ISRN Nutr. 2013;2013:481651. Published 2013 Jan 2. doi:10.5402/2013/481651Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92. Published 2019 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/foods8030092Cleveland Clinic,Probiotics.Hosseinkhani F, Heinken A, Thiele I, et al.The contribution of gut bacterial metabolites in the human immune signaling pathway of non-communicable diseases.Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/19490976.2021.1882927Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: definition, types, sources, mechanisms, and clinical applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92.Park M, Joung M, Park JH, et al.Role of postbiotics in diet-induced metabolic disorders.Nutrients. 2022;14(18):3701. Published 2022 Sep 7. doi:10.3390/nu14183701Żółkiewicz J, Marzec A, Ruszczyński M, Feleszko W.Postbiotics-a step beyond pre- and probiotics.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2189. Published 2020 Jul 23. doi:10.3390/nu12082189National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics.World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines.Probiotics and prebiotics.Sabaté JM, Iglicki F.Effect ofBifidobacterium longum35624 on disease severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2022;28(7):732-744.Marinova VY, Rasheva IK, Kizheva YK, et al.Microbiological quality of probiotic dietary supplements.Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2019;33:1, 834-841.Shi LH, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, et al.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res.2016;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021Yoon JY, Cha JM, Oh JK, et al.Probiotics ameliorate stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Dig Dis Sci. 2018;63(10):2754-2764. doi:10.1007/s10620-018-5139-8Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, et al.The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100(4):1075-1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151
de Vos WM, Tilg H, Van Hul M, Cani PD.Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights.Gut. 2022;71(5):1020-1032. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326789
Wegh CAM, Geerlings SY, Knol J, et al.Postbiotics and their potential applications in early life nutrition and beyond.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(19):4673.
Kechagia M, Basoulis D, Konstantopoulou S, et al.Health benefits of probiotics: a review.ISRN Nutr. 2013;2013:481651. Published 2013 Jan 2. doi:10.5402/2013/481651
Markowiak P, Śliżewska K.Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health.Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1021. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu9091021
Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92. Published 2019 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/foods8030092
Cleveland Clinic,Probiotics.
Hosseinkhani F, Heinken A, Thiele I, et al.The contribution of gut bacterial metabolites in the human immune signaling pathway of non-communicable diseases.Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/19490976.2021.1882927
Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al.Prebiotics: definition, types, sources, mechanisms, and clinical applications.Foods. 2019;8(3):92.
Park M, Joung M, Park JH, et al.Role of postbiotics in diet-induced metabolic disorders.Nutrients. 2022;14(18):3701. Published 2022 Sep 7. doi:10.3390/nu14183701
Żółkiewicz J, Marzec A, Ruszczyński M, Feleszko W.Postbiotics-a step beyond pre- and probiotics.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2189. Published 2020 Jul 23. doi:10.3390/nu12082189
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics.
World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines.Probiotics and prebiotics.
Sabaté JM, Iglicki F.Effect ofBifidobacterium longum35624 on disease severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.2022;28(7):732-744.
Marinova VY, Rasheva IK, Kizheva YK, et al.Microbiological quality of probiotic dietary supplements.Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2019;33:1, 834-841.
Shi LH, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, et al.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res.2016;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6
Yoon JY, Cha JM, Oh JK, et al.Probiotics ameliorate stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Dig Dis Sci. 2018;63(10):2754-2764. doi:10.1007/s10620-018-5139-8
Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, et al.The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100(4):1075-1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151
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