Prebiotics are fiber found in plants which goes through the intestines unchanged. When you add prebiotics to your body it acts as a fertilizer to enrich the good bacteria (probiotics). Think of prebiotics as the miracle grow of the colon.

Just a few benefits of prebiotics include

• better regularity
• improved immune function
• vitamin production
• better energy
• less leaky gut
• better calcium absorption
• improved bone density
• less inflammation
• maintain a healthy weight.

Some foods that contain prebiotics

• Asparagus
• Leeks
• Yams
• Artichokes
• Raw garlic
• Dandelion Greens
• Raw Jicima
• Raw or cooked onions
• Unripened bananas (no brown spots)

Now let's talk about the ever popular probiotics

You hear the word probiotics thrown around a lot these days.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that are often referred to as “good bacteria” because they help promote a healthy digestive tract and immune system.  There are literally dozens of different probiotics, some are categorized as Lactobacillus and others as Bifidobacterium. Each category has different strains.

Probiotics are measured in colony forming units (CFUs) and there are many different “strains” of bacteria, with the most popular being L. Acidophilus and B. bifidum which help keep the microflora of the small intestines balanced. This is especially useful to offset the effects of antibiotics.

Another popular strain of probiotic is L. fermentum which is found in some of my favorite foods: fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and sourdough. This lactobacillus strain also helps promote a healthy level of gut bacteria.

Probiotics are essential for maximum digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Probiotics also aid in the elimination of toxins. For example the strain L. rhamnosus is perfect for carrying when traveling as it can help prevent traveler’s diarrhea. A good combo to carry when traveling is charcoal and probiotics.

Benefits of probiotics include

• Healthy gut flora; less leaky gut
• Improved immune function
• Helps with weight loss
• Prevents urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Helps fight food borne bacteria
• Helps heal skin conditions like eczema
• Treats Candida and other yeast overgrowth

Probiotic rich foods include

In addition to supplementing with probiotics you can also try to add probiotic foods to your diet. These foods include:

• Pickled or sour vegetables such as pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi
• Miso soup
• Kefir
• Yogurt (preferably cultured from raw milk but definitely not highly sugared and colored varieties like Trix or the junk in a tube)
• Sourdough bread
• Kombucha
• Raw cheese (especially soft cheeses)
• Spirulina, chlorella and blue-green algae (green powders you can add to your smoothies and juices)

Yia Yia's Tzatziki Sauce for Gyros is a perfect prebiotic / probiotic combo recipe. Look for other ways to get prebioitics and probiotics in the same meal! Share your ideas in the comments!

Read more about probiotics here.

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