Intestinal health can have a huge impact on your overall feelings of health and well being. Each person has their own unique blend of microflora and bacteria present in their system, which contributes to optimal intestinal health function.
Prebiotics and Probiotics – What’s the Difference?
In simple terms, prebiotics and probiotics are both necessary for intestinal health. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that keep your intestinal system in good working order and help your colon rid itself of toxic chemicals and pathogens. Probiotics can be found in foods such as yogurt, kefir, tempeh, kim chi and miso. Eating probiotics several times a week can help prevent colon cancer and improve the body’s immune response to colds and infections. Health conditions that respond well to regular consumption of foods high in probiotics include diarrhea, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and asthma.
Prebiotics are food that helps probiotics do their job. Prebiotics can be found in foods such as leeks, onions, beans, lentils, chickpeas, asparagus and Jerusalem artichokes. They are also present in fiber supplements such as slippery elm and psyllium. Regularly consuming prebiotic foods several times a week can help maintain probiotic bacteria in your gut and encourage good bowel health.
Since probiotics help your intestinal system fight off foreign pathogens, many digestive specialists recommend eating probiotic foods before embarking on a trip to prevent stomach upset. Surprisingly, the immune system is primarily located around the bowel system, making it important to tend to optimal intestinal system functioning to maintain overall good health.
– The Alternative daily