Prebiotics vs probiotics

Did you know… that if you gathered all of your gut bacteria together, it would weigh approximately 1kg!

What is the difference?

A prebiotic is a type of fibre (but not all fibre is prebiotic) that passes undigested to the large intestine and ‘feeds’ the good bacteria in the gut. A probiotic is a food or supplement that already contains good bacteria for the gut.

Examples of prebiotics: Legumes, Oats, Onions, Garlic, Berries, Bananas, Cashews, Asparagus

Examples of probiotics: Kombucha, Kefir, Miso, Kimchi, Sauerkraut, Yogurt, Tempeh

How can gut bacteria be ‘thrown off balance’?

Many aspects of the western lifestyle can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Some examples include:

• Antibiotics

• Stress

• Food poisoning

• Not eating a diverse range of foods

• Alcohol

• Smoking

• Decreased sleep

• High stress levels

Ami’s tips:

Check out Happy Kombucha for starter kombucha and kefir kits that are easy (and much cheaper) to make at home. Once you have your kombucha scoby, it will continue to grow, and so you can then increase the quantity that you make, or share it with a friend or family member.

Miso is also a staple in our home – I often whip up a teaspoon of miso, teaspoon of Dijon, juice of half a lemon and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, then drizzle on your favourite roasted veg, salad, or stir fry!