There has been a lot of buzz around getting probiotics into your diet lately. And it can seem a bit confusing. So what exactly is the difference between a prebiotic and a probiotic? Why are they important to our health? And how can we incorporate these foods, drinks or supplements into our diets and the diets of our family? There is increasing evidence that having healthy gut bacteria is essential to overall health. Have you ever been told to ‘listen to your gut’? Well your gut, often called your ‘second’ brain, plays a big role in immunity, weight regulation, inflammation, and mood. Science recognises much of our supply of neurochemicals originates in the intestines. Most of your serotonin is made there, as well as approximately 50% of dopamine!

Prebiotics are found in some fibre containing carbohydrates. Prebiotics are nondigestible substances that act as food for the gut microbiota. It’s not digested in the stomach and small intestine, instead this nondigestible prebiotic fibre ends up in the colon. Once it’s in the colon it starts to ferment, this process feeds all the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut. Prebiotics help to encourage a natural increase in good bacteria, they are important in a healthy gut because they feed the beneficial bacteria from probiotics.

Some foods which contain prebiotics are; garlic, oats, bananas, potato, kumara, lentils, chickpeas, red kidney beans, berries, grapefruit, dates, pasta, whole hemp seeds, honey, cacao, rice and leek.

Probiotics are the live beneficial bacteria that are naturally created in foods that go through a fermentation process. Consuming probiotic foods help to create a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, not only helps your digestive system function well, but also boosts your immune system, keeps your heart healthy, decreases depression, anxiety, and stress and improves some skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rosacea.

Some foods and drinks which contain probiotics are kombucha, yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso, apple cider vinegar and other fermented veggies (unpasteurized). When eating fermented foods for their probiotic benefits, make sure they’re not pasteurized, as this process kills the bacteria.

Keeping your gut bacteria balanced is important for maintaining overall health and wellbeing. To do this, eat plenty of both prebiotic and probiotic foods, as they will help promote the most ideal balance between good and bad gut bacteria. As with anything do your research and/or contact a health care professional who you trust for further advice. Listen to your gut! And do what feels right for you and your own body.

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