益生菌和益生元的區別及好處

By now, you've probably heard that gut health is crucial to overall health. The lining of your gut is lined with a multitude of microorganisms that form an ecosystem known as the "microbiome." Maintaining a healthy microbiome has a vital impact on many aspects of your health; some studies even link gut health to mental health, autoimmune status, and skin condition. So how do we keep these microbes in balance? If you think of these microbes as tiny organisms, then they're like us—what you feed them affects their health, and that's where probiotics and prebiotics come in.

probiotic

What isprobioticPrebiotics are carbohydrates that the human body cannot process, and these carbohydrates come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (although not all fiber is necessarily a prebiotic). This fiber can act as food or fertilizer, helping to stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

probiotics

Your gut is home to a vast array of organisms we call gut microbiota, but not everyone has a healthy gut microbiota. probioticsProbiotics are healthy bacteria that can be added to your existing gut microbiota, and prebiotics are the food these organisms eat. Probiotics can be obtained through foods such as yogurt, as well as other fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, and tempeh.

Most foods and supplements contain specific strains of bacteria, most commonly lactic acid bacteria, but even within lactic acid bacteria, there are over 120 different types. Some strains may be better for your health than others, so it's always a good idea to ask your doctor which type of bacteria is best for you.

Why you need prebiotics and probiotics

The saying "you are what you eat" actually refers to the role of prebiotics and probiotics. The food you eat and the food your gut microbiota consume are the same. A poor or unbalanced diet can affect many health-related areas, including your normal gut microbiota, and research has begun to link gut health to certain diseases and conditions.

● If you follow a high-sugar, high-fat diet, you will increase your risk of insulin resistance.
● An unhealthy diet can foster the growth of harmful bacteria, allowing them to outnumber healthy bacteria. This can lead to various health problems and physical discomfort.
● Harmful bacteria or an unhealthy gut microbiome are more likely to cause obesity.
Sometimes, the cell walls of gut bacteria contain endotoxins, which can trigger an immune response in the body, leading to inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with a wide range of health problems and diseases. Dietary choices are related to the amount of these endotoxins in the gut microbiota, as healthier diets tend to produce cells with lower endotoxin levels.

What are the benefits of prebiotic and probiotic supplementation?

How do probiotics help us? Further research, combining studies on healthy eating, has shown that prebiotics and probiotics...supplementsAnd food can bring these benefits:

● A study found that a healthy gut containing a variety of bacteria can help address weight and mood issues.
● Taking prebiotics while using antibiotics can help reduce discomfort, and some studies have found that this reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 60%.
●Probiotics can help control symptoms in patients with chronic gastrointestinal problems.
●Although prebiotics are still relatively new in the supplement market and in research, some early studies have yielded positive results.
● Prebiotics may promote calcium absorption.

Conclusion

Prebiotics and probiotics work together like a team to keep your gut healthy. Although we can't see the tiny world inside our gut, they have a significant impact on health. You can ask your doctor or nutritionist which probiotics, supplements, and diets are best for you to achieve optimal gut health and well-being.