What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are non­-digestible food ingredients that promote the growth of good gut bacteria¹.

Prebiotics act as sources of food for the microbes living in the gut, which metabolise and ferment prebiotics in order to survive. It is this process that is beneficial to gut health, because it produces various other byproducts, such as short-chain fatty acids, that provide the gut with energy.

References

  1. Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr. 1995 Jun;125(6):1401-12. doi: 10.1093/jn/125.6.1401. PMID: 7782892.

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