Fermented foods have been around for millenniums but only recently stepped into the spotlight of our gut health routines.
Prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics: What’s the difference?
It takes time to get them all straight.
They increase the amount of microorganisms in our gut to help maintain a diverse microbiome.
Whereas probiotics are live bacteria,prebiotics2are nondigestible food compoundsspecifically, fibers.
Examples of a few prebiotic foods include beans, dandelion greens, oats, kiwifruit, and onions.
But where do postbiotics fit in?
If you’re looking for motivation, you’ll find it in the research.
As far as digestive health goespostbiotics3help maintain the integrity of our intestinal tract lining.
- Butyrate, for example, is a SCFA that boosts fluid absorption and helps with intestinal barrier function.
Postbiotics have an important role to play, but fermented foods like kimchi and tempeh are an acquired taste.
Finding a farmers market or store that carries a tasty product also isn’t a guarantee.
Not to mention, ginger is known tostimulate digestive enzymes6.
If we’re honest, it’s tough to get sauerkraut and turmeric in our daily lives.
But a high-quality supplement?
That we can do.
CFU count indicates how many live active cultures are present in a probiotic product.
In contrast, postbiotics (and prebiotics) are measured by weight in milligrams or grams instead of CFUs.
A high-quality postbiotic supplement is less about numbers and more about where its ingredients come from.
Thankfully,Gaia Herbssupplements are potent but also purity-tested and screened for pesticides, microbes, and heavy metals.
you’re free to trust your gut but also their transparent sourcing.
The bottom line
Juggling all of the “-biotics” is no easy feat.
Gut health is connected to everything: skin, immunity, mood, and beyond.
We’re here for solutions that make gut health more accessible and achievable.
Especially if it means one less bowl of sauerkraut.
