Most of you have heard of probiotics – but do you also about PREBIOTICS??
Probiotics and prebiotics both serve important health functions for the human gut.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that live inside your gastrointestinal tract. They aid in digestion by essentially cleaning out the gut so that things keep flowing. They also play an important role in strengthening your immune system. Like all living things, probiotics need to be fed in order to remain active and healthy and to benefit you as much as possible.
Prebiotics act as food for probiotics.
In other words, probiotics eat prebiotics. Remember the arcade game Pac-Man, where the yellow Pac-Man eats his way through a maze of dots? Relating this to prebiotics and probiotics within your gut: Pac-Man is the probiotic and the dots are prebiotics.
HOW TO GET PREBIOTICS:
In a nutshell, prebiotics are a type of fiber. They are indigestible plant fibers that feed the probiotics, or the good bacteria already live inside the large intestine. In order to realize the full effects prebiotics can offer, strive to consume at least 5 grams of prebiotic-dense foods a day.
Here are some of the top contenders on the prebiotic foods list:
Raw Chicory Root
Raw Jerusalem Artichoke
Raw Dandelion Greens
Tigernut (if you are in the Toronto area, you must try @angiesjuicery’s delicious and healthy tigernut mylk. To die for!!)
Raw Garlic
Raw Leeks
Raw or cooked onion
Raw Asparagus
Raw Wheat Bran
Raw Banana
RAW OR COOKED?
As with most foods, the composition of prebiotic fiber foods changes when they are cooked. Heating anything changes its composition, thus altering its natural occurring state. In the case of prebiotics, if you cook them, you lose some of that precious prebiotic fiber.
CONCLUSION: Because the health of the gut is closely tied to many other bodily functions, prebiotics and probiotics together are important for battling inflammation and lowering overall disease risk.
Interested in knowing more about "PROBIOTICS"? Check out my post on those, here: Probiotics, and Why You Need Them
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