Enlighten Mar 05, 2017

Why Are Prebiotics Good For You?

Why Are Prebiotics Good For You?

We've been talking up a storm about probiotics but what are they really? Probiotics are good bacteria and they feed on prebiotics. So then what are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are the food good bacteria thrive on. They are simply a specific type of soluble fiber that people cannot digest, but the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in our digestive tracts can. In other words, prebiotics are "food" for probiotics, or the health-promoting bacteria, that live in our intestines and protect us from diarrhea-causing pathogenic (bad) bacteria.

These favorable probiotics have been successfully included in our skin care products. As probiotic bacteria feast on prebiotics, all sorts of beneficial digestive by-products called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced.Research into the health benefits of these SCFAs is emerging, and they are being credited with outcomes ranging from regularity to colon cancer prevention, inducing remissions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases like Ulcerative Colitis.

There are lots of reasons to eat foods with prebiotics in them but first you need to know what foods are rich in these good bacteria treats. Chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, Garlic, regular artichokes, bananas, leeks, onions, and wheat are just a few of the many. Pretty random right? They're also found in Inulin, which is used by the food industry to make their products creamier. Check out the ingredient list for, say, ice cream. Now there's a great reason to pick up a carton of Ben and Jerry's!