Pre pro and postbiotics seem to be top of the newsfeed lately.
Prebiotic sodas like Poppi and Olipop becoming more more popular.
Kombucha has become so popular for its probiotic effect that it’s now even sold in cans at bodegas.
And now, the supplement industry has started talking about postbiotics.
It’s getting hard to discern what is necessary, what is helpful, and what is…well, maybe not worth the investment.
And listen, at the end of the day, what supplements you choose to take are mostly between you and your doctors.
However if you, like many other fitness fanatics, are curious about pre pro and postbioitics, you’re going to want to give this article a read.
To fully understand pre pro and postbiotics, you first need to understand what each of them are and what they do for you.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. These microorganisms are what we call “good bacteria” and they aide in food digestion, attacking disease-causing cells, and producing vitamins.
Probiotics are found in foods like yogurt, cheese, and buttermilk. They are also found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, miso, pickles, kombucha, kimchi, and raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are non-digestible foods that promote the growth and activity of good gut bacteria. In other words, if probiotics are the live “good bacteria” then prebiotics are food for these live bacteria.
Prebiotics are most often dietary fibers. They can be found in whole grains, bananas, greens, onions, garlic, soybeans, artichokes, and beans.
That’s why consuming enough fiber is so important. Without the prebiotic benefits of dietary fiber, the probiotics don’t get enough “food” to fuel themselves to digest food efficiently, fight disease, and produce vitamins.
This can increase bloating and inflammation, cause IBS, and begin to breakdown your immune system.
Postbiotics
Just like their name implies, postbiotics are the active substances produced by the probiotics during their growth. In other words, if prebiotics feed the probiotics, then postbiotics are what the probiotics produce as a result of being fed.
No, not like waste.
Rather, the postbiotics are what probiotics build because they have been feed by the prebiotics. These substances include vitamin B12, vitamin K, folate, and several amino acids.
So, Do I Need to Take a Postbiotic Supplement?
The short answer, as with many things is, it depends.
By and large, the little research we have on postbiotic supplements is that if you’re consuming enough probiotics and fiber, then you don’t need a postbiotic supplement because your body will naturally produce them.
And if you aren’t consuming probiotics and fiber in your diet currently, it’s definitely something to think about striving for.
Because while some studies have shown that postbiotic supplements can be marginally helpful. It’s more efficient for the body to produce it’s own through consumption of pre and probiotics.
Pre Pro and Postbiotics and You
Pre pro and postbiotics are a very important part of your gut health. Your gut health is an important part of your immune system, your digestive system, and the production of necessary vitamins you need to feel energized and healthy!
And while you can take a supplement for pre, pro, and postbiotics, those supplements are generally not enough to rely on.
You’ll still need to ensure that you are consuming pre and probiotic foods regularly in order for your body to produce the beneficial postbiotics needed to fuel a healthy body.
Want to learn more about how your body works and ways to fuel it? Here are a few blogs discussing just that: A Dancer’s Guide to the Best Supplements for Muscle Recovery,Leaping For Joy: A Dancer’s Guide on How to Jump Higher, The ABCs of BCAAS: The Science-Based Facts Revealed
