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The gastrointestinal tract (colon or gut) has a wide range of microbes like fungii and bacteria that aid in digestion and play a protective role in preventing illness and disease such as fungal infections. These good bacteria, often referred to as flora, also help manage bad bacteria. Bad bacteria can result in mild to severe gastrointestinal illness and disease. You can also visit Live Kefir Company’s website for more tips and information about kefir.

Probiotics and prebiotics can both be used to help maintain a healthy balance of flora in the gut. But what exactly are these two agents, how do they work and can they be used together?

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are microbes or microorganisms that are introduced to the gut to replenish the flora. A natural example of this is the bacteria that are found in yogurt. Probiotics are also available in supplement form where the “good” bacteria are grown specifically for the purpose of improving gastrointestinal health. These bacteria are the same as would naturally exist in the gut. Probiotics are ideally used where there is a severe lack of bacteria of flora in the gastrointestinal tract.

What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are basically the food source for the “good” bacteria and other microbes in the gut. They aid in the growth and improve the activity of microbes. The food source is commonly fibrous in nature consisting of long chains of carbohydrates that feed the bacteria for an extended period of time. A well-known prebiotic that is created by the human body is insulin. There are however many other types of prebiotics that are available in supplement form.

Can Probiotics And Prebiotics Be Taken Together?

Probiotics interact with one another. Remember that probiotics are microbes that are introduced into the gut and prebiotics are the food source for those microbes. So it follows that taking prebiotics will aid on the growth and activity of the probiotics that have been introduced into the gut.

But is this beneficial or harmful to the gut?

Some probiotic supplements actually contain prebiotics. The prebiotics act as food for the probiotics when they reach the colon or large intestine helping the bacteria or microbes to thrive. In this scenario, taking probiotics and prebitoics is beneficial.

However, sometimes when prebiotics are taken with probiotics, the added food source can cause the introduced bacteria to proliferate too quickly. Too much “good” bacteria can be just as bad for the gastrointestinal tract as bad bacteria.

When it comes to the flora in the gut, it is all about balance. Other types of mircobes like fungii also exist in the gut and play a role in digestion and maintaining a healthy gut. When too much “good” bacteria take over in the gut, they destroy the fungii and other microbes resulting in an imbalance of flora in the gastrointestinal tract. Most commonly, this results in discomfort in the bowel as well as bloating and gas.

While you can take prebiotics and probiotics together in moderation, it is generally recommended to take them separately. If you are eating a diet that is high in fiber or taking a fiber supplement, it is not recommended to use prebiotics with probiotics as the fiber is already acting as a food source for the flora in your gut. Please check www.livekefircompany.co.uk if you want to buy kefir drinks.

Probiotics Vs. Prebiotics – Can They Be Taken Together?

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