Your gut health affects your overall well-being. What you eat and how you consume your food every day creates a lot of difference. With the changing scenarios, the hectic work-life balance, it is not surprising to lose track of your food habits. If you are struggling with something similar, you should learn more about your gut health and prebiotics.
Your gut lining is covered with tiny creatures, like bacteria. This micro-ecosystem is called a microbiome, which plays a significant role in your health, mood, and behavior. So, this means the healthier the microbiome is, the healthier you are.
The gut is an integral and complex system that needs to be taken care of and prebiotic and probiotic supplements can help with it. The microorganisms in the gut impact metabolism, mental health, immune system, and digestive health. If you decide on taking prebiotics, you will be favoring yourself.
According to research, only five percent of Americans can meet the everyday fiber intake. In consequence, there could be a rise in the number of diseases and other ailments.
We tend to hear more about probiotics compared to prebiotics. However, in reality, the latter is just as vital when it comes to maintaining a healthy gut.
What is prebiotic? How can it help your gut health?
Non-digestible fibers, acting as a food source are prebiotics, essential and useful for gut bacteria and the entire body. They travel through the digestive system and help good bacteria multiply. Here, the good bacteria make digestion easier and act as a defense system.
Prebiotic supplements help in bridging the gap that your diet might be lacking. You know that taking care of your gut can be as simple as changing your diet and adding these supplements.
How to load up on prebiotics?
Prebiotics are necessary for probiotics to work better and these non-digestible fibers are called oligosaccharides. Following are some of the prebiotic food to make your gut happy and lively:
- Asparagus
- Bananas
- Barley
- Cabbage
- Chinese chives
- Garlic
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Honey
- Legumes
- Maple sugar
- Oats
- Onions
- Rye
- Soybeans
- Whole wheat foods
Trying out some of the above-mentioned items can help you figure out what suits you the best. Some food can result in bloating, but on the other hand, they can prove to be beneficial for your bowel functioning.
What is the right time to take prebiotics?
Taking prebiotics every day can improve and enhance your health and energy. So, the best time would be to stick to it daily. Say, if you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or a similar digestive disorder, you should consult an expert or avoid taking them at the time of discomfort.
If you already take a prebiotic, that’s excellent! You can take them 10 to 15 minutes after probiotics, which will help restore and prevent some health issues.
Top 4 benefits of prebiotics
Now that you know how great prebiotic are for your microbiome, you should know their multiple health benefits. So, let’s talk about them.
- Keeps the blood pressure in check
Consuming prebiotics help in balancing the body’s electrolyte levels and mineral, helping the blood pressure to decrease. Compared to animal-based prebiotics, plant-based can help lower the blood pressure level.
- Help in preventing hair loss
Dialing up on your prebiotic intake will boost the good bacteria in your gut, which will eventually benefit your skin. By increasing this balance of bacteria on your skin, the redness and itchiness can reduce. Prebiotics are also healthy for your scalp, strengthening the scalp skin and resulting in better hair growth.
Balanced hormones, a strong immune system, and reduced inflammation promote hair growth and healthy scalp skin.
- Help manage stress
Sure, there are plenty of ways to reduce stress, like journaling or meditating, but studies suggest that food rich in prebiotics can decrease stress levels. Your gut health will help release stress hormones. That’s why taking prebiotics can make positive changes during stressful times.
- Enhances body’s immune function and lowers inflammation
Prebiotics and probiotics help with various health problems, including reducing the risk of infections and improving bowel movements. They also help keep the body’s immune system running smoothly.
These are the four benefits out of the lot that you can enjoy just by incorporating prebiotics into your everyday life.
The Final Takeaway
Prebiotics are excellent for maintaining a healthy gut. These fibers help the good bacteria in the body produce short-chain fatty acids that can improve the intestine lining.
Prebiotics are natural sources of these bacteria. They can support a healthy gut by helping to keep the bacteria in check.
Not all prebiotics work the same way. For instance, some provide complete nourishment to the gut bacteria, while others are designed to stimulate growth and improve the health of the gut. It’s best to consult your family doctor before incorporating it into your daily life.
