If this pandemic has taught us anything, health is worth everything to us these days. Keeping up with wellness, nutrition, probiotics, and exercise are all ways in which we can make our bodies stronger. However, we know focusing on feeling our best starts from within. It’s a journey that we can take to keep ourselves calmer, create more energy, and ensure we treat our bodies with kindness. One of the first steps you can take with your overall health and wellness is with your gut. When your gut is feeling good, the possibilities are endless. Over 2,500 years ago, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates said that “all disease begins in the gut.” He wasn’t far off.
To keep ourselves in good shape, we need to ensure our gut is intact. The gut harbors bacteria, and it’s not all good. The ‘bad bacteria’ can throw off the body’s microbiome. That’s why probiotics and prebiotics are so important—these ‘good bacteria’ supplements can support systemic benefits, not just gut health. We outlined the differences and similarities between pre-and-probiotics below. Please keep reading about why they could be your gut’s new BFF below.
Prebiotics vs. Probiotics:
What Are Probiotics?
You may have heard many explanations for probiotics and why you might need them. The Mayo Clinic classifies probiotics as being made up of good bacteria that help keep your body healthy and feeling well. How they help include fighting off harmful bacteria if you ingest too much, but their primary function is to keep your microbiome in check. These good, live bacteria balance the impact of harmful bacteria. The microbiome exists within your body to keep you safe and protected from infections.
What Are Prebiotics?
Here’s where things get interesting and very cool (if you geek out on science like us). Prebiotics are like fertilizers in the way they work, according to the Mayo Clinic. They are plant fibers that stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut. In fruit, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates such as fiber and starch, you can find them. Your body cannot digest them, but they work as food for that good bacteria and the other microbes in your microbiome. When paired with probiotics, prebiotics serve as a protective shield against stomach acid and bile so the ‘good bacteria in the probiotic can make it to your colon. More on that below.
Why Do You Need Both?
Here’s the case for both: more good bacteria equals less of that harmful bacteria getting in the way of your health. By having good bacteria in your system, harmful bacteria don’t get a chance to grow and cause disease. The truth of the matter is: that you need prebiotics for probiotics to work. Prebiotics are an incredible foundation for ensuring your probiotics get where they need to go. When you do this, you start “microbiome therapy.” Taking both in unison or one supplement is called a synbiotic. According to Healthline, some research “indicates that prebiotics and probiotics are effective for treating diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, allergic disorders, and even the common cold.”
What You Need to Know Before Taking a Synbiotic
If you decide to take a synbiotic, prepare for your body to get acclimated to it. When you start the new regimen, you might have gas, constipation, loose stool, or maybe even a loss of appetite. Additionally, you might have some bloating and acid reflux. This is all normal and starts at the beginning of your new routine. It should go away with time!
Why Bioptimizers Probiotics is the Best of Both Worlds
The Bioptimizers P3-OM contains probiotics plus prebiotic supplements to promote all aspects of a healthy gut. They help balance the immune response, add to your digestive enzyme bank account, strengthen your gut barrier, communicate with your brain, and promote healthy gut movement.
P3-OM Benefits
Supports Gut Barrier Health and Nutrient Absorption
Probiotics help the gut barrier grow stronger, less inflammatory, and more efficiently digesting and nutrient absorption. P3OM can aid with food allergies and chronic inflammation by assisting in the healing of a leaky gut.
Optimizes Digestive Function and Relieves Digestive Symptoms
Controls the Growth of Bad Bacteria, Viruses, and Yeasts in the Gut
The anti-viral and anti-fungal properties of P3-OM make it great for specifically killing harmful bacteria and leaving beneficial bacteria intact. These probiotics can also support recovery from food poisoning and antibiotic-associated diarrhea with these properties.
Helps to Improve Mood, Stress Resilience, and Brain Balance
Neurotransmitters produce neurotransmitters and ensure that they are in balance with each other. Imbalanced neurotransmitters include anxiety, depression, irritability, and brain fog.
Supports Healthy Immune Function
If you have a healthy immune system, you can effectively fight off an infection. A healthy immune system also means that you’re less likely to have autoimmunity, allergies, or other symptoms of chronic inflammation.
May Help With Yeast Infection
May Improve Weight Loss
Gut bacteria have a significant impact on your physical appearance. For example, having too much harmful bacteria due to poor nutrition might cause a leaky gut, allowing nasty bacteria toxins into the circulation. These poisons produce persistent low-grade inflammation, which causes exhaustion and stimulates appetite, resulting in weight gain. P3OM may help mend a leaky gut and kill harmful bacteria, which can aid with weight reduction when combined with diet and exercise.
