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Everything You Need to Know About Postbiotics
Village Green Nutrition Team on
A balanced diet is important for a lot of reasons, not least of which is that the human body needs the right nutrients – and in the right quantities – to be able to function at its best. A growing amount of research is proving how important gut health is for overall wellness.
It is important to remember that your body needs balance in order to maintain health, and that includes between the good and bad bacteria in your gut. This guide explains what you need to know about postbiotics, a key factor in the process to keep you at your healthiest.
Understanding Postbiotics, Probiotics and Prebiotics
Many people have heard of probiotics, the good bacteria that live in your body and help combat the overgrowth of the bad bacteria that can lead to health issues. The terms “postbiotics” and “prebiotics” are likely a little less familiar, though, and that can lead to some confusion. Here’s what you need to know about each.
Prebiotics
If you have ever heard someone mention they should probably get more fiber, they may have been talking about needing more prebiotics (likely without even knowing it!). The category includes certain types of soluble fiber that help probiotics multiply, and that helps with issues such as intestinal health, relieving constipation, supporting healthy cholesterol levels, boosting immune and bone health, and more. Many probiotic supplements include prebiotics in their formulas, but you can also get prebiotics naturally from:
- asparagus
- bananas
- garlic
- grains
- leeks
- legumes
- nuts
- onions
- raspberries
- seeds
- vegetables
- other whole foods
There are many options for how to take your prebiotic, including chewable supplements, superfood powders, drink mixes, and capsules – and in a variety of types and flavors – to make ingestion as convenient as possible.
Probiotics
These are the “live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your body” and constantly combat the growth of bad bacteria that may lead to inflammation, disease or other issues. The interesting thing is that probiotics use prebiotics to work their magic, “consuming” the prebiotics to work as they should. Their entire job is to keep the bacteria in your body balanced, meaning no overgrowth of either the beneficial or the bad. Your body functions at its best when this balanced state is achieved. Probiotics are found in:
- buttermilk
- cottage cheese
- sauerkraut
- sourdough bread
- tempeh
- yogurt
-
many other fermented items
There are many probiotic supplements you can take, too, including options specifically for women, infants, children, and more. Keeping your bacteria levels balanced will go a long way toward improving overall health and wellness, including boosting digestion, protecting your body from pathogens, assisting with nutrient absorption, and improving immunity, among other functions.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics, on the other hand, are most easily explained as the “byproducts of the fermentation process carried out by probiotics in the intestine,” meaning they result from the breaking down of prebiotics. This byproduct waste can have benefits of its own, among them:
- helping to alleviate allergic responses
- reducing or treating inflammation and inflammatory conditions
- assisting with skin or eye problems
- alleviating stomach issues such as irritable bowel or leaky gut syndromes
It can be difficult to find supplements that include postbiotics because the substances are typically the result of a normal bodily process, but there are options available. Your best bet is to speak with an expert about the ones that might be right for you.
3 Facts to Know: Digging Into Postbiotics
When you are working to maintain or achieve proper gut balance and health, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. For starters, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and that excess can lead to problems. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Your microbiome is unique to you.
You may have heard this before, but each person’s gut health is tailored specifically to their body. That means the levels of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics necessary to maintain balance is also unique, and what works great for one person might not work for another.
It is best to consult a health professional about the proper steps to take to improve your gut health, as you may need assistance in determining which supplements to take, how much to ingest, and when to add, subtract, or switch to another. Lab testing may also be beneficial.
2. Gut health is tied to overall health and common conditions.
The human body is constantly undergoing scrutiny and studies, and the gut is no exception. More than 17,000 studies have proven that gut health plays a role in determining whether you develop several common diseases – including metabolic syndrome, allergies, depression, cancer, dementia, ulcerative colitis and cognitive decline, among many others – and that makes working to maintain yours all the more important.
3. Postbiotics have been linked to many health benefits.
Recent research suggests that postbiotics have several perks, including improving metabolism, digestion, calcium absorption, immune health and function, mental health and more, as well as preventing select chronic health problems.
Finding the right combination of healthy food and supplements is important. It is always best to speak with a qualified specialist before embarking on any new regimen.
Ask the Experts About Your Gut Health Needs
Finding the right nutrient balance is an important process, but it can also be a difficult one to navigate. The team at Village Green Apothecary is composed of herbalists, licensed nutritionists, educators and naturopathic doctors, all of whom are here to help you determine the options that will be best for you.
Contact Village Green Apothecary to learn more about your body’s postbiotic and gut health needs, or to discuss any other supplements you are interested in.Categories
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