Most of us have heard of prebiotics and probiotics. But not many of us have heard about postbiotics.
Research suggests that postbiotics are actually equally important, if not more important, in maintaining and improving our gut health.
With similar sounding names, these biotics are actually different elements which are however, pretty much related.
Let me share what I understand about it :)
Prebiotics are fibres that change the composition of gut microbiota by providing “food” that promotes good bacteria growth. Prebiotics are mainly soluble fibre, similar to those found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Probiotics are the gut microbes themselves, important because they help promote better health from the microbe ecosystem, such as strengthening against infection by boosting immune system and preventing bad bacteria from colonizing our gut and anti-inflammatory aspects... You can find probiotics in foods like yogurt, miso, sourdough, pickles, kombucha, kimchi. Fermented rice bran powder is also a natural prebiotic as well which is good for gut health and reducing cholesterol level.
Postbiotics are the products or "waste" of probiotics when they undergo fermentation process in our gut..
Research has found evidences that most of the positive effects we normally attribute to probiotics are in fact postbiotics. Postbiotics provide a foundation for prebiotics abd oostbiotics to live in our gut...
That’s not all. Complete-biotics creates a synbiotic effect– prebiotics that help growth of good bacteria, probiotics and postbiotics that improve your digestion and gut microbiome.
So now you know, prebiotics are like the “food”, probiotics are the microorganisms themselves, and postbiotics are the results of probiotics consuming that “food”. For more info, you can learn about complete biotic (including prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic) here.
Postbiotics, which might be considered probiotic waste, are highly effective at helping optimize our gut health. So here are my 5 reasons why these Biotics - Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics are important for our health:
1. Boosting Our Immune System
Consuming biotics helps prevent harmful bacteria from entering our gut... Did you know our gut microbes can help protect us from five serious chronic diseases such as diabetes type 2, coronary heart disease, obesity, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. And these diseases are more than serious.
Furthermore, many of us do not know, a large proportion of our immune system is housed in the gut. So, when you consume biotic-rich foods, you are supporting the mucosa (gut lining) as a natural barrier, making our immune system stronger.
When you don't consume or have enough of these beneficial bacteria in your gut, disease causing microbes starts to grow and this causes inflammation in our gut wall and increase risk of developing gut related diseases...
2. Improve Gut Health
Researchers have discovered that our gut health is closely connected to many other parts of us.
Having indigestion, diarrhea, constipation etc, will affect not just your immune system but also your mood, and it can also cause acne breakouts!
One of the main functions of probiotics and postbiotics is to populate the gut with an ecosystem that favors the growth of good bacteria, thus not allowing the population of infectious bacteria. The “replacement effect” in coordination with the direct bacteria-fighting properties of postbiotics helps fight infections.
Furthermore, having a healthy gut health can reduce the risk of gut-related diseases such as SIBO, IBS, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, gastric, and more.
3. Improve Nutrients Absorption
Biotics and a healthy gut help increase the availability of vitamins and minerals for our bodies to absorb.
And when we boost the beneficial bacteria in our gut, we are promoting their ability to produce B vitamins and synthesise vitamins.
4. Reduce Anxiety & Depression Symptoms
Not many of us know that our brain and our gut are highly linked and both are full of neurons (brain cells) and neurotransmitters (brain chemicals).
Did you know 90% of our serotonin (the “feel-good” neurotransmitter) is made in our gut! That’s why you feel irritated, frustrated, or even angry when you have discomfort in your stomach.
That is why we really should take our biotic supplements seriously as it simultaneously helps both our digestive system as well as our depression and anxiety symptoms. Our gut may be the new frontier for mental health research!
5. Helps Regulate Blood Sugar and Manage Weight
When you do not have enough intestinal microbe balance, it actually contributes to obesity and insulin resistance. A postbiotic bacterial component called muramyl dipeptide, has been shown to reduce glucose spike by increasing insulin sensitivity.
Based on the importance mentioned above, now you know why our biotic supplements are important for more than just your gut since their benefits reach other body systems like our immune system and our brain system and our brain.
If you are looking for an easy-to-consume, tasty alternative, YourGutt could be one in your list as it is fermented rice bran powder available in different flavours! Fermented rice bran powder is a natural prebiotic as well which is good for gut health and reducing cholesterol level. Learn more from its official website: https://www.yourgutt.my/
Credit to: YourGutt