Prebiotics are food particles which are non-digestible simple sugar carbohydrates that are found in vegetables and grains.  These enter our colons and remain un-altered by the digestion system. The Beneficial bacteria, which live in our intestine, need these ingredients for survival. These prebiotics help to promote their growth in intestine.

Types of Prebiotics

Prebiotics are of different types but the famous types are Inluin, FOS, GOS and Lactolose. These four types are regarded as safe for use after the long time research. These ingredients not only serve as strengthening the intestinal flora, they also decrease the growth and action of waste microbes. So they are very important for a human body to keep the balance and to protect it from harmful deseases.

Side Effects of Prebiotics:

Although, prebiotics are more important for the bacteria which live in intestine but they have some side effects.  Gastro-intestinal problem is one of them in which Gas problem begins when you intake these substances at high. You can avoid this situation by controlling these prebiotics in the food.

According to studies, if the digestive flora is unbalanced, these prebiotics will also support the unhelpful bacteria in the intestine.

Probiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics are often confused. Yet they do not have the same nature nor the same functions.

Probiotics are bacteria, therefore living microorganisms like those already present in the intestinal micro biota. These probiotic bacteria promote good colon bacteria while suppressing those that are harmful *.

Probiotics can be said to “protect” and “cleanse” the intestine. In Greek, probiotic means “for life”.

Where are probiotics found?

– In fermented foods  : dairy products (yogurts, cheeses, kefir milk, lassi), active brewer’s yeast, sauerkraut, fermented fish, fermented soybean preparations (soy sauce, miso, natto, tempeh, tofu).

– in active brewer’s yeast.

For centuries, man has been using these fermented products containing these probiotics on all continents.

The first probiotic bacterium identified was Lactobacillus bulgaricus , in 1907, by a scientist at the Institute Pasteur. It is a passing probiotic bacterium that does not adhere to the intestinal wall.